In a significant development that reverberates across India’s aviation and ground handling sectors, the Indian Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has today cancelled the security clearance of Çelebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd, on the grounds of National Security. This will have a nationwide impact. Let’s see how.

Çelebi Airport Services Security Clearance Revoked by BCAS

In an official order issued by BCAS (Order No. BCAS-HQ/2025/security clearance GHA/RA/E-272989), the Director General of BCAS exercised powers to revoke the security clearance of Çelebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd., citing national security interests. The clearance, originally granted via letter no. 15/99/2022 dated November 21, 2022, now stands withdrawn with immediate effect.

This development follows a broader mandate under which the Government of India has been scrutinising and reassessing the security protocols and ownership structures of companies operating in sensitive sectors such as aviation.

 

Çelebi’s presence in India expanded significantly through three separate entities. Çelebi’s first step into India began with a joint venture, tasked with providing comprehensive and world-class services at Mumbai International Airport. Within a year, Çelebi was registered in India to provide ground handling as Çelebi Airport Services India and cargo services as Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India at Delhi International Airport.

Within the last 10 years, these two stations have grown to become a total of nine stations in India, consisting of Mumbai, Delhi, Cochin, Kannur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa (GOX), Ahmedabad, and Chennai.

Some of the airlines that utilise Çelebi’s infrastructure in India include British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways, Air India, and Qatar Airways.

Delhi Airport cancels contract.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has officially severed ties with Çelebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd., following the revocation of the company’s security clearance. The move, effective May 15, 2025, was made on grounds of national security and marks the abrupt end to Çelebi’s presence at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), where it had been providing ground handling and cargo terminal services for over a decade.

In a media statement issued the same day, DIAL confirmed that it had “formally ended its association with Çelebi entities responsible for ground handling and cargo operations” at IGIA. Çelebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd. and Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India Pvt. Ltd. were previously overseeing these crucial functions.

To ensure continuity and avoid operational disruptions, DIAL is working closely with existing service providers such as AISATS and Bird Group for passenger services. For cargo handling, the airport operator is onboarding pre-approved cargo handlers.

DIAL emphasised that all employees currently working under Çelebi at IGIA will be transitioned to new employers without delay. Their terms and conditions of employment will remain intact, a move aimed at safeguarding employee welfare amid the operational change.

Çelebi Aviation Responds: “Allegations Misleading and Factually Incorrect”

Çelebi Aviation India issued a detailed rebuttal, strongly denying allegations that led to the revocation of its security clearance. Terming the claims “misleading and factually incorrect,” the company highlighted its ownership structure and longstanding contributions to India’s aviation ecosystem.

In its official statement, Çelebi clarified:

Çelebi Aviation India is a professionally governed, globally operated aviation services company. Today, it is majority-owned (65%) by international institutional investors from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Western Europe.

The statement further addressed circulating rumours about alleged political affiliations, including false claims involving Turkish political figures. It categorically denied any ownership links to Sümeyye Erdoğan, asserting that the only Turkish shareholding resides with the founding Çelebioğlu family — Mr. Can Çelebioğlu and Ms. Canan Çelebioğlu, each with a 17.5% stake.

Çelebi also highlighted its economic and employment contributions:

We directly employ over 10,000 Indians, supporting the livelihood of thousands of families, and have contributed more than USD 220 million in long-term infrastructure investments across nine major airports in India.

Additionally, Çelebi reiterated its compliance with all Indian aviation, security, and tax regulations, affirming that CISF, BCAS, and AAI routinely audit its facilities. The company labelled the present action as being driven by “misinformation” and expressed confidence that “facts, transparency, and common sense will prevail.”

What Happens Next?

While DIAL has acted promptly to ensure there is no disruption in passenger or cargo services at India’s busiest airport, the exit of a long-time player like Çelebi raises broader implications for the aviation services sector.

Çelebi’s exit could pave the way for increased participation by Indian or other multinational ground handling firms. At the same time, it reopens discussions around how security clearances are granted, maintained, or withdrawn in high-stakes infrastructure environments, especially in a geopolitical climate where ownership scrutiny is on the rise.

While other airport ground handlers will step in in the interim, what happens at Goa Mopa (GOX) is of importance, because Çelebi is the sole GHA operator in GOX.

Bottomline

The sudden termination of Çelebi’s services across India marks a significant development that highlights the increasing emphasis on national security within India’s aviation sector. While DIAL has assured continuity of services and protection of employee interests, the move marks a reshaping of the ground handling landscape at IGIA. Çelebi, on the other hand, has mounted a strong defence of its ownership and operations in India, raising questions about the transparency of the decision-making process.

For now, Delhi Airport moves forward with new partners, but the fallout from this decision, including legal, diplomatic, and sectoral ramifications, is likely to echo in the weeks ahead.

What do you think of this move to revoke the security clearance of Çelebi in India?

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