Çelebi Airport Services has suffered a significant setback in its operations in India amid rising political and diplomatic tensions in the country. On 15 May 2025, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) of India officially announced the cancellation of Çelebi’s security clearance as a ground handling service provider, citing national security concerns.
The decision letter, signed by BCAS Joint Director Sunil Yadav, included the following statement regarding the cancellation of the clearance:
“The security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd. under the Ground Handling Agency category… has been cancelled with immediate effect in the interest of national security. This is subject to the approval of the Director General of BCAS.”
Çelebi Was Operating at Strategic Locations in India
Çelebi NAS Airport Services operates in nine Indian cities, including the country’s two largest airports, Delhi and Mumbai. At Mumbai Airport, the company was responsible for approximately 70% of ground handling services, which included passenger services, flight operations, ramp, load control, general aviation, cargo and mail services, warehouse management, and bridge operations.
Additionally, the company is known to provide cargo services at Delhi International Airport under the name “Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India.”
Political Tensions and Nationalist Pressures Played a Role
The decision to revoke the licence is believed to be influenced not only by security concerns but also by diplomatic tensions. Following the Pahalgam attack in Pakistan, Turkey’s support for Pakistan sparked public debate in India. As a result, Turkish companies operating in India began facing negative public sentiment.
Murji Patel, a senior leader of the Hindu nationalist Shiv Sena party, sent a delegation to Mumbai International Airport Limited to formally request the termination of Çelebi’s services. Subsequently, Çelebi’s operations came under increasing public scrutiny.
Expert Opinion: A Long-Standing Debate
Aviation consultant Sanjay Lazar stated on social media that the security clearance granted to Çelebi dates back to the UPA era (post-9/11), and even at that time, it faced opposition from trade unions. Lazar claimed that during periods of tension in India-Turkey relations, attempts were made to “conceal” the Turkish ownership of the company.
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