Adani Airport Holdings has officially terminated its partnership with Çelebi, a ground handling firm, at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA). The move comes after the Union government revoked the security clearance of Çelebi, citing national security concerns.
This directive was issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, following recent tensions between India and Turkey over the latter’s support for Pakistan in international matters.
A spokesperson for Adani Airport Holdings stated, “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 and Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Accordingly, Celebi has been directed to immediately hand over to us all ground handling facilities to ensure uninterrupted operations.” The company further assured that all existing employees of Çelebi at both airports would be transferred to new ground handling agencies under their current terms of employment, ensuring that airport operations remain unaffected and service standards are maintained.
The termination of Çelebi’s contracts is not limited to Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) also ended its agreement with Çelebi, reflecting a broader shift after the government’s security concerns. Çelebi had a significant presence in India, managing ground handling at nine major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Cochin, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Ahmedabad, and Chennai. In Mumbai alone, Çelebi handled nearly 70% of ground operations.
Response by Çelebi Aviation India
Amidst the controversy, Çelebi Aviation India has strongly denied allegations about its Turkish links and political affiliations. In a detailed statement, the company said, “We are not a Turkish organisation by any standard and adhere fully to globally accepted practices of corporate governance, transparency, and neutrality, with no political affiliations or links to any foreign government or individuals.” Çelebi clarified that its Indian operations are majority-owned (65%) by international institutional investors from countries such as Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, the UAE, and Western Europe. The remaining ownership is split between Actera Partners II L.P., a Jersey-registered fund, and Alpha Airport Services BV, a Dutch entity.
Çelebi also addressed specific rumours regarding its ownership, especially claims linking it to Sümeyye Erdoğan, daughter of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The company categorically stated, “We categorically reject another false claim being propagated around Ms. Sümeyye Erdoğan’s daughter being a part owner. For the record and in line with complete transparency, there is no one named Sümeyye owning any shareholding in the parent organisation. The Turkish shareholding is solely limited to members of the founding Çelebioğlu family; Mr. Can Çelebioğlu and Ms. Canan Çelebioğlu, neither of whom have any political affiliations or associations of any kind”.
Çelebi Aviation India further emphasised its commitment to India and its role in the country’s aviation sector. “Our business in India is truly an Indian enterprise, led and managed by Indian professionals. We remain fully committed to India and to contributing meaningfully to the country’s progress as a global aviation hub. We are confident that facts, transparency, and common sense will prevail over misinformation,” the company added.
With Adani Airport Holdings moving swiftly to ensure a seamless transition, new ground handling agencies have already been appointed to take over the services at Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports. The company reiterated its commitment to upholding the highest standards of service and national interest, assuring passengers and airlines of uninterrupted operations.
