4 hours ago
Last Updated:May 16, 2025, 13:14 IST
Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports, run by Adani, ended ground handling deals with Çelebi due to Turkey's support for Pakistan. The Centre revoked Çelebi's security clearance.
The Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports have ordered the Turkey-based firm to immediately hand over all its ground handling facilities. (File)
Amid massive criticism of Turkey for supporting Pakistan which recently further severed its ties with India, Adani group-operated Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports have ended the ground handling concession agreements with Çelebi, an Istanbul-headquartered airport ground handling major.
This comes in the wake of the Centre’s decision to revoke the security clearance of Çelebi. The two airports have ordered the firm to immediately hand over all its ground handling facilities in order to ensure uninterrupted operations at the airports, The Indian Express, citing a statement by the two airports, reported.
The recent development follows a similar announcement by Delhi Airport Ltd (DIAL) on Thursday which further strained ties with Çelebi entities for ground handling and cargo operations at the national capital’s Indira Gandhi (IGI) Airport.
“We will continue to provide seamless service to all airlines without disruptions through new ground handling agencies selected by us. All existing employees of Celebi at CSMIA (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport, Mumbai) and SVPIA (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport, Ahmedabad) will be transferred to new ground handling agencies on their existing terms and conditions of employment. Ground handling operations at our airports will remain unaffected," the Indian Express quoted the spokespersons for the two airports as saying.
Delhi airport operator DIAL had mentioned that it was working with other ground handling companies to ensure “continuity and operational stability" at the airport. DIAL also assured that all employees currently on the rolls of Çelebi entities for cargo and ground handling services at IGI Airport will be transitioned to the new employers.
Additionally, India’s aviation security regulator Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on Thursday revoked the security clearance of an Indian wing — Çelebi Airport Services India — of Çelebi Aviation Holding on grounds related to “national security". The revocation also applies to other associate entities of Çelebi in India. Defending itself, Çelebi Airport Services India said that it is “truly an Indian enterprise" led and managed by Indian professionals, and is “not a Turkish organisation by any standard".
Location : First Published:News world Mumbai, Ahmedabad Airports Terminate Contracts With Turkish Firm Çelebi
