Adani Airport Holdings on Thursday announced it has ended its partnership with Turkish firm Çelebi for ground handling services at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA).
The move follows a formal notification issued by India’s Bureau of Civil Aviation Security under the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, which revoked Çelebi Airport Services India Ltd’s security clearance on 15 May. Çelebi, a subsidiary of Turkish conglomerate Çelebi Aviation Holding, was ordered to immediately transfer all ground handling facilities to Adani.
“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,” said spokespersons for the Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports. “Accordingly, Celebi has been directed to immediately hand over to us all ground handling facilities to ensure uninterrupted operations.”
All current Çelebi employees at the two airports will be absorbed by new agencies, Adani said. “All existing employees of Celebi at CSMIA and SVPIA will be transferred to the new ground handling agencies on their existing terms and conditions of employment,” the spokespersons added.
They emphasised that operations will remain stable. “Ground handling operations at our airports will remain unaffected. We are fully committed to upholding the highest standards of service and national interest.”
National security and foreign affiliations at the Centre
The decision to revoke Çelebi’s security clearance comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Turkey, which has expressed support for Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent launch of ‘Operation Sindoor’, has faced growing criticism within India.
Çelebi has a significant footprint in India, offering ground handling services at nine airports, including Delhi, Cochin, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Goa. The firm also operates cargo services through Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India.
The recent move echoes a similar step by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which formally ended its ties with Çelebi for ground handling and cargo operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport. National security was again cited as the reason.
Also Read: Govt revokes security clearance for Turkish ground handling firm Celebi Airport Services
Çelebi rejects allegations, says it's not a Turkish state entity
Responding to the termination and the allegations swirling on social media, Çelebi Aviation India issued a strong rebuttal.
“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,” the company stated.
Further clarifying its ownership, Çelebi said, “Celebi Aviation India is a professionally governed, globally operated aviation services company. Today, it is majority-owned (65%) by international institutional investors from across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Western Europe. Actera Partners II L.P., a Jersey-registered fund holds 50% ownership in Celebi Havacilik Holding AS. The remaining 15% is held by Alpha Airport Services BV, a Dutch-registered entity.”
Founded in 1958, Çelebi Aviation provides a wide range of services, including passenger handling, ramp services, flight operations, and aircraft cleaning.
Also Read: EaseMyTrip Founder Nishant Pitti firmly reiterates national security claim against MakeMyTrip
Adani also cuts off DragonPass amid global tensions
In a separate development, Adani Airport Holdings has terminated its association with DragonPass, a China-headquartered airport lounge and travel services provider.
“Our association with DragonPass, which provided access to airport lounges, has been terminated with immediate effect. DragonPass customers will no longer have access to lounges at Adani-managed airports,” a spokesperson said.
No reason was specified, but the move follows the recent announcement of a collaboration between DragonPass and Adani Digital Labs (ADL) just a week prior, on 8 May. ADL functions as the digital innovation arm for Adani Airports, developing digital services and customer experience upgrades.
DragonPass, based in Guangzhou, offers services at over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide and includes airport dining discounts, limo bookings, and personalised meet-and-greet options.
The abrupt termination, coming so soon after the announced partnership, raises questions about India’s increasingly cautious stance towards companies with perceived links to adversarial nations.
The twin terminations—of Çelebi and DragonPass—appear to reflect a broader trend. As India’s geopolitical climate grows more complex, especially with tensions involving China and Pakistan, scrutiny of foreign firms operating in critical infrastructure sectors has increased sharply.
The move follows a formal notification issued by India’s Bureau of Civil Aviation Security under the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, which revoked Çelebi Airport Services India Ltd’s security clearance on 15 May. Çelebi, a subsidiary of Turkish conglomerate Çelebi Aviation Holding, was ordered to immediately transfer all ground handling facilities to Adani.
“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,” said spokespersons for the Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports. “Accordingly, Celebi has been directed to immediately hand over to us all ground handling facilities to ensure uninterrupted operations.”
All current Çelebi employees at the two airports will be absorbed by new agencies, Adani said. “All existing employees of Celebi at CSMIA and SVPIA will be transferred to the new ground handling agencies on their existing terms and conditions of employment,” the spokespersons added.
They emphasised that operations will remain stable. “Ground handling operations at our airports will remain unaffected. We are fully committed to upholding the highest standards of service and national interest.”
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 (CSMIA) and Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel… pic.twitter.com/sGk9WYpqiR
— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2025
National security and foreign affiliations at the Centre
The decision to revoke Çelebi’s security clearance comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Turkey, which has expressed support for Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent launch of ‘Operation Sindoor’, has faced growing criticism within India.
Çelebi has a significant footprint in India, offering ground handling services at nine airports, including Delhi, Cochin, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Goa. The firm also operates cargo services through Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India.
The recent move echoes a similar step by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which formally ended its ties with Çelebi for ground handling and cargo operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport. National security was again cited as the reason.
Also Read: Govt revokes security clearance for Turkish ground handling firm Celebi Airport Services
Çelebi rejects allegations, says it's not a Turkish state entity
Responding to the termination and the allegations swirling on social media, Çelebi Aviation India issued a strong rebuttal.
“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,” the company stated.
Further clarifying its ownership, Çelebi said, “Celebi Aviation India is a professionally governed, globally operated aviation services company. Today, it is majority-owned (65%) by international institutional investors from across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Western Europe. Actera Partners II L.P., a Jersey-registered fund holds 50% ownership in Celebi Havacilik Holding AS. The remaining 15% is held by Alpha Airport Services BV, a Dutch-registered entity.”
Founded in 1958, Çelebi Aviation provides a wide range of services, including passenger handling, ramp services, flight operations, and aircraft cleaning.
Also Read: EaseMyTrip Founder Nishant Pitti firmly reiterates national security claim against MakeMyTrip
Adani also cuts off DragonPass amid global tensions
In a separate development, Adani Airport Holdings has terminated its association with DragonPass, a China-headquartered airport lounge and travel services provider.
“Our association with DragonPass, which provided access to airport lounges, has been terminated with immediate effect. DragonPass customers will no longer have access to lounges at Adani-managed airports,” a spokesperson said.
No reason was specified, but the move follows the recent announcement of a collaboration between DragonPass and Adani Digital Labs (ADL) just a week prior, on 8 May. ADL functions as the digital innovation arm for Adani Airports, developing digital services and customer experience upgrades.
DragonPass, based in Guangzhou, offers services at over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide and includes airport dining discounts, limo bookings, and personalised meet-and-greet options.
The abrupt termination, coming so soon after the announced partnership, raises questions about India’s increasingly cautious stance towards companies with perceived links to adversarial nations.
The twin terminations—of Çelebi and DragonPass—appear to reflect a broader trend. As India’s geopolitical climate grows more complex, especially with tensions involving China and Pakistan, scrutiny of foreign firms operating in critical infrastructure sectors has increased sharply.
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