BCAS Revokes Security Clearance Of Turkey's Celebi Airport Services

 

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has revoked the security clearance of M/S Celebi and its associated companies in the interest of 'national security'. The Turkish-exception ground handling company operates at multiple major airports in India, including, Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa, Hyderabad and Cochin. An order issued by Joint Director (Operations) of BCAS Sunil Yadav read, "The security clearance of r/o Celebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd, under the category Ground Handling Agency was approved by DG, BCAS vide letter no. 15/99/2022-Delhi- BCAS/E-219110 dated 21.11.2022.

 

In the exercise of power conferred upon DG, BCAS, the security clearance in r/o Celebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd is hereby revoked with immediate effect in the interest of National Security. This issues with the approval of DG, BCAS." Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said national interest and public safety are paramount and non-negotiable. He said arrangements are being made at all affected Airpor1ts to ensure seamless handling of passengers and cargo. The minister said efforts are being made to ensure that employees working with Celebi are retained and continue to contribute to airport services. Naidu said the Ministry of Civil Aviation is fully committed to ensuring that passenger convenience, cargo operations, and service continuity remain unaffected.

 

The minister said he is personally monitoring the situation and the Ministry is in active coordination with airport operators to manage the transition smoothly. The minister further stated, “We are also deploying special teams to oversee operations and address any emerging issues in real time. We will continue to uphold national security while ensuring ease of travel and cargo movement across the country.” The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) DIAL is working with existing ground handlers AISATS and Bird Group (both ground handlers) and is in the process of onboarding a cargo handler that has already been approved in advance to ensure operational continuity. DIAL will also transition all Çelebi employees at IGI Airport to their new employers without changing employment terms. DIAL has reassured passengers, airlines and cargo stakeholders that they will continue to have consistent services and operations during the transition Phase.

 

Celebi is one of three ground handlers that operate at Delhi Airport along with AISATS and Bird Group. The firm charges for both passenger and cargo terminal services and is a critical operational team in the turnaround of aircraft at the airport as well as very busy airports. Due to cancelation of security clearance being immediate, the airport operators at these locations will need to quickly find stopgap measures to reassign Celebi Airport Services responsibilities to other licensed ground handlers.

 

Eventually, new tenders will be floated to appoint a replacement. Celebi’s presence in India spans nine airports, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Goa, Cochin, and Kannur—through at least three different companies. Its ground handling services include baggage loading and unloading, passenger check-in assistance, aircraft cleaning, refuelling coordination, and flight operations support. According to the company’s website, Celebi began Indian operations through a joint venture in Mumbai. It later established Celebi Airport Services India and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India. Over the years, the firm’s footprint expanded significantly, and it now handles 58,000 flights annually, manages 5.4 lakh tonnes of cargo, and employs around 7,800 staff.