Indian Government Revokes Security Clearance of Turkish Firm Celebi Airport Services Over National Security Concerns

On Thursday, the Government of India revoked the security clearance previously granted to Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of the Turkish ground handling firm Çelebi Hava Servisi A.Ş. The Directorate General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) issued the official order, citing national security as the reason for the immediate revocation.

The clearance, which had been granted on November 21, 2022, was withdrawn under the authority of the DG, BCAS, marking a significant regulatory move amidst growing geopolitical sensitivities.

National Security at the Forefront

Although the government has not detailed the specific reasons for this action, the decision comes shortly after reports surfaced that the Pakistani military had used Turkish drones in recent hostilities. This has brought heightened scrutiny to Turkish-linked entities operating within India’s strategic sectors, including aviation.

Celebi Aviation India Responds

In a statement issued after the revocation, Celebi Aviation India clarified its ownership and operational structure. The company emphasised that 65% of its ownership lies with international institutional investors based in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Western Europe.

The remaining 35% is owned by the founding Turkish Celebi family and associated international entities. The parent company’s largest shareholder is Actera Partners II L.P., a Jersey-registered fund, holding 50%, while 15% is held by Alpha Airport Services BV, a Dutch-registered entity.

The company firmly denied any political affiliations or ownership links to Turkish political figures, specifically refuting rumours regarding Sümeyye Erdoğan’s involvement. It stated that the only Turkish stakeholders are Mr Can Çelebioğlu and Ms Canan Çelebioğlu, both of whom are private individuals without political connections.

Operations Across Indian Airports

Celebi began its India journey through a joint venture at Mumbai International Airport and has since expanded to 9 major airports, including Delhi, Cochin, Kannur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa (GOX), Ahmedabad, and Chennai.

The firm played a pivotal role in ground handling, covering services such as passenger assistance, ramp operations, load control, cargo and postal handling, warehouse management, and bridge operations. Prior to the security clearance withdrawal, Celebi was servicing 58,000 flights annually, handling around 540,000 tonnes of cargo.

At Mumbai airport, Celebi was responsible for nearly 70% of ground handling operations, making it a key contributor to airport functionality.

Read More: Aviation Stocks Face Turbulence as 27 Airports Shut Amid ‘Operation Sindoor’. 

Conclusion: Impact on Aviation Operations

The revocation of Celebi’s security clearance raises concerns about service continuity at major Indian airports. Given the scale of its operations, airport authorities may need to deploy alternate solutions quickly to maintain efficiency and avoid disruptions.

This development highlights the increasing influence of national security considerations in regulating foreign-linked commercial entities in critical sectors like aviation.
 

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