The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai has a new ground handling services provider after the Indian government revoked the security clearance of Turkey-based Çelebi Airport Services India Ltd. The move, which has significant implications for airport operations and international relations, comes after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) cited "national security interests" as the reason for the revocation.
Çelebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Turkish conglomerate Çelebi Aviation Holding, was directed to immediately transfer all ground handling facilities to Adani Airport Holdings. The firm had been operating in India since 2008, providing ground handling and cargo services at nine major Indian airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Kannur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Goa and Chennai.
The decision to revoke Çelebi's security clearance follows heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Turkey. Turkey's support for Pakistan and condemnation of India's counter-terrorism strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor, as well as the alleged use of Turkish drones by Pakistan during the conflict, raised concerns in India. The BCAS also reportedly found multiple lapses in Çelebi's ground handling operations at Indian airports. The security clearance to Çelebi had originally been granted on November 21, 2022.
In response to the revocation, Çelebi Aviation India issued a statement distancing itself from political or national affiliations. The company stated that it adheres fully to globally accepted practices of corporate governance, transparency, and neutrality, with no political affiliations or links to any foreign government or individuals. However, despite these assurances, the Indian government proceeded with the termination of their permit. Çelebi Hava Servisi AS has announced it will pursue all available administrative and legal remedies to challenge the termination of the agreements.
Adani Airport Holdings has stated that all current Çelebi employees at the Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports will be absorbed by new agencies, ensuring job security for the existing workforce.
This change in ground handling services at CSMIA occurs as the airport is undergoing significant infrastructural changes. Terminal 1 is slated for demolition in November 2025 to make way for a new terminal, expected to be completed by 2028-29. The new terminal will increase the airport's capacity and integrate advanced technologies and sustainable design elements. In the interim, Terminal 2 and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) will manage passenger volumes. The NMIA is scheduled to begin commercial operations by May 2025 and is expected to ease the burden on CSMIA.
Furthermore, Mumbai Airport will be suspending freighter operations from August 16, 2025, to facilitate infrastructure upgrades, with the aim of shifting these operations to Navi Mumbai Airport. Additionally, plans are underway to relocate most private and charter planes to Navi Mumbai Airport by the end of the year. These strategic moves are aimed at enhancing the overall efficiency and capacity of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region's aviation infrastructure.
