Çelebi out, Indothai in: Mumbai Airport replaces firm for ground handling operations

The decision to terminate these concession agreements was taken after the Union government revoked the security clearance of the Turkish aviation firm.

A day after revoking the permit of Turkey-based ground handling firm Çelebi, aviation regulator BCAS on Friday signed an agreement with Indian company Indothai to assume control of staff and assets at Mumbai Airport.

A joint meeting was held with all affected airlines to enable a smooth and stable transition of Ground Handling Services from Celebi NAS Airport Services at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).

"Indo Thai Airport Services — a certified ground handler currently operating at nine airports across India – has been appointed as the interim ground handling provider at CSMIA for the next three months, effective immediately." "Indo Thai Airport Services will work with Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) to provide the highest level of service aimed at meeting the existing Service Level Agreements (SLA) and conditions," said a spokesperson, Mumbai Airport.

"CSMIA will facilitate the transfer of all existing employees of Celebi NAS at CSMIA to Indo Thai Airport Services on their existing terms and conditions of employment, thus ensuring no loss of employment and continued service delivery to airline partners." "All ground handling equipment currently owned by Celebi NAS will be leased by Indo Thai Airport Services, in order to maintain continuity of service," the statement further added.

Within the next three days, MIAL – operator of CSMIA – will initiate the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for onboarding a long-term ground handling partner. This partner will be onboarded in the next three months.

MIAL has assured all airline partners that ground handling operations will remain unaffected, and operations at CSMIA will continue seamlessly and without any disruption. MIAL remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of service for passengers and airlines, protecting employee welfare, and serving the national interest.

Adani Airport Holdings on Thursday said it has terminated the ground handling concession agreements with Turkish firm Celebi for the Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports.

It also said that Celebi has been directed to immediately hand over to the company all ground handling facilities to ensure uninterrupted operations. The decision to terminate these concession agreements was taken after the Union government revoked the security clearance of the Turkish aviation firm.

"Following the government of India's decision to revoke Celebi's security clearance, we have terminated the ground handling concession agreements with Celebi at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA).

"Accordingly, Celebi has been directed to immediately hand over to us all ground handling facilities to ensure uninterrupted operations," a spokesperson for Adani Airport Holdings said in a statement.

The company said it will continue to provide seamless service to all airlines without disruptions through new ground handling agencies selected by it. "All existing employees of Celebi at CSMIA and SVPIA will be transferred to the new ground handling agencies on their existing terms and conditions of employment," the company said.

"Ground handling operations at our airports will remain unaffected. We are fully committed to upholding the highest standards of service and national interest," the spokesperson added.

*With Agency Inputs