Adani Group Mulls to Enter Airport Ground Services Following Turkish Celebi's Exit

As per news reports, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd is considering entering the airport ground handling business in India, specifically at the Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports. The company, which currently operates both these airports, is evaluating bids following the exit of Turkish operator Celebi Hava Servisi AS.

Turkish Celebi’s Exit 

Celebi, which handled ground services at 9 airports across India, had its security clearance revoked by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. The cancellation was linked to national security concerns after Turkey expressed political support for Pakistan during a recent conflict. Celebi’s operations were halted shortly after the clearance was withdrawn.

Ground Handling at Major Airports

Indian aviation rules require that every airport with annual passenger traffic exceeding one million must have three ground handling service providers. With Celebi’s exit, a vacant slot has opened up at several major airports. If Adani wins the bid, it will become the third ground handler at both Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Read more: Adani Group Rejects Media Reports Alleging Import of Iranian LPG!

Adani’s Current Operations

Adani Airport Holdings is a unit of Adani Group, which operates 8 airports in India, including Mumbai and Ahmedabad, and is developing another airport in Navi Mumbai. Entering the ground handling business would add another layer to its existing airport operations.

Aviation Expansion in India

India has over 140 operational airports and is planning to increase this number to 350 by 2047. Alongside infrastructure expansion, there has been a steady rise in passenger traffic and investments from both the government and private players. These developments are expected to drive demand for services like ground handling.

Conclusion

With Celebi out of the picture, ground handling contracts at several airports have opened up. Adani Group is now evaluating bids for 2 of these, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The process is ongoing, and final decisions are yet to be made.

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