Bengaluru Airport begins transition after Çelebi’s security clearance revoked, assures uninterrupted operations

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.

After the Central government revoked the security clearance of Turkish ground handling company Celebi NAS Airport Services, the Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) has said that is working closely with existing ground handling service providers to ensure continuity and operational stability.

A spokesperson from Bengaluru International Airport Limited, which operates Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru said, "In compliance with the directive from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to revoke the security clearance of Çelebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) is working closely with existing ground handling service providers to ensure continuity and operational stability. BIAL is actively coordinating the transition to maintain seamless airport operations. The airport assures passengers, airlines, and cargo stakeholders that all necessary measures are being taken to uphold service and operational efficiency during this period."

Meanwhile, GMR Airport's owned Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) also formally ended its association with Çelebi entities responsible for ground handling and cargo operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).

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

The GMR Group's decision to cut ties with Celebi comes after 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.

The action comes amid increasing scrutiny of the company's operations in India following the discovery of Turkish-origin UAV components during the India–Pakistan border escalation under Operation Sindoor. Government said there was “concrete evidence of hostile technologies” being used by Pakistan, allegedly sourced from foreign entities.

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.

Çelebi Aviation India has strongly denied allegations of political affiliations or ownership links with the Turkish government, after India’s Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked its security clearance citing national security concerns.

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

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