India Revokes Security Clearance for Turkey’s Celebi Airport Services Citing ‘National Security’

Citing “national security” concerns, the Indian government on Thursday revoked the security clearance of Turkey-linked ground handling firm Celebi Airport Services and its associated companies, impacting operations across nine of the country’s busiest airports.

The decision, issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), affects Celebi’s presence at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Goa (MOPA), Cochin, and Kannur airports, where the company has been responsible for ground and cargo handling operations.

“Nothing is above the security of our nation,” said Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. “National interest and public safety are paramount and non-negotiable. Efforts are underway to ensure Celebi’s employees are retained and airport operations continue seamlessly.”

The order is effective immediately and follows strained diplomatic relations with Turkey after its public support for Pakistan. This includes Turkey’s backing of Pakistan following India’s counter-terror Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Celebi’s India operations suspended

Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd (CASIPL), a subsidiary of the Turkish multinational Celebi Aviation, has been operating in India since its entry through Mumbai. It has since expanded its footprint across major Indian cities, handling services including passenger boarding, baggage loading, fuel coordination, cargo movement, and aircraft maintenance.

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has already announced the termination of its partnership with CASIPL, ensuring that “smooth operations and employee continuity” would be maintained through alternate service providers like Bird Flight Services (BFS) and Air India SATS (AISATS). Similar transitions are expected at other airports.

Celebi denied reports linking the company to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s daughter Sümeyye, who is married to Selçuk Bayraktar, the head of BAYKAR, a defense firm that produces drones. Pakistan is alleged to have used BAYKAR-linked drones in attacks targeting Indian territory.

“We are not a Turkish organisation by any standard,” Celebi India said in a statement, citing global institutional investors as its primary stakeholders. “We maintain strict corporate neutrality and transparency, with no affiliations to foreign governments.”

Nevertheless, the government’s decision follows rising calls within India for a boycott of Turkish and Azerbaijani products and services.

Travel companies like MakeMyTrip and Ixigo have suspended bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan amid heightened public anger. Cleartrip reported a 260% rise in cancellations to these countries within a week.

Turkish President Erdoğan’s voiced strong support for Pakistan. Calling Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif his “dear brother,” Erdogan said Turkey would continue to stand by Pakistan “in good times and bad.”

His message came in response to a post by Sharif, who had thanked Turkey for its backing after India launched Operation Sindoor. The operation was a counter-terror move following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which India has linked to Pakistan.

Erdogan described the bond between Turkey and Pakistan as “one of the finest examples of true friendship” and concluded his post on X (formerly Twitter) with: “Long live Pakistan-Turkey friendship!”

Meanwhile, Celebi’s future in India remains uncertain, with the company likely to consider legal or diplomatic options.

Background on Celebi Aviation

Founded in 1958, Celebi Aviation was the first private ground handling company in Turkey and has since expanded operations to 70 airports worldwide. In India, it operated high-security services in both passenger and cargo terminals. The firm’s parent company ownership includes global institutional investors based in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and the U.A.E.