India revokes security clearance for Turkish airport services firm Celebi over 'national security concerns'

India's Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCAS) has revoked the security clearance for Turkish airport services company Celebi Aviation, currently present in nine airports in India, with immediate effect citing national security concerns.

India's apex body for aviation security, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, on May 15 revoked the security clearance for Turkish ground handling agency Celebi Airport Services India with immediate effect 'in the interest of national security. Celebi Airport Services India is a subsidiaries of Çelebi Aviation Holding, a Turkish company.

"In the exercise of power conferred upon DG, BCAS, the security clearance in r/o Celebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd is hereby revoked with immediate effect in the interest of National Security," the BCAS notification said.

Celebi currently covers 65 percent of Indian aviation traffic through its presence in nine airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Mopa and Kannur. It provides ground handling as Çelebi Airport Services India and cargo services as Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India at Delhi.

The company also provides ground handling services for the international flight portion of Air India's operations at the Mumbai airport and also handles SpiceJet and FLY91's ground handling operations at the nine airports its currently serves in India.

Celibi Aviation also handles high-security tasks at Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai airports. It reportedly manages 58,000 flights in India annually and has 7,800 employees in India.

The company's presence at Indian airports had come under increased scrutiny, after finding evidence of Turkish-origin UAVs in the border escalation with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.

The government said it had recovered and identified 'concrete evidence of hostile technologies', showing Pakistan's attempts to exploit advanced foreign-supplied weaponry against India.

Since May 8 the Shiv Sena has demanded an immediate termination of Çelebi's contract at Mumbai’s international airport citing national security concerns over Turkey’s alleged support for Pakistan in recent drone-related activities from across the border.

Shiv Sena leader Murji Patel led a delegation to Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), calling for an end to its association with Çelebi NAS Airport Services.

The Sena had given Mumbai International Airport a 10-day deadline to cancel the contract, warning of protests if no action is taken. Patel said the party has already met with the airport’s CEO (Chief Executive Officer), who has promised to review the matter and respond within the timeframe.

The ultimatum came at a time when social media is abuzz with boycott calls for travel to Turkiye. This, because, Turkiye and Azerbaijan are accused of providing military assistance to Pakistan as it tried to swarm the Indian air defence system after India struck terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) during Operation Sindoor on May 7.

The cry of "nation first" has echoed from every corner of India, with Indian travellers pressing the pause button on their Turkey and Azerbaijan trips, with over 2,000 cancellation requests so far.

Murali Ramachandran, President India & Southeast Asia, Celebi Aviation, had in an interview told Moneycontrol that the company is majority owned by private equity now.

"Our parent has its head office in Turkey. That's where the Celebi business has its genesis. That's where the promoter has built the business. But the business is majority owned by private equity now. The majority shareholder of Celebi is a private equity company with investment funds which are predominantly blue-chip Canadian, American, Singapore, and UAE investment vehicles," Ramachandran had said.

Ramachandran had also told Moneycontrol in an another interview that the company was mulling to invest around $80 million in India till 2027.

"Celebi has already invested around $250 million (since its entry into the Indian market in 2007). In terms of expected investment, we will be adding $28 million in ground handling in the next four years. Around $30 million are likely to be invested in cargo business,” Ramachandran had said.