Despite the abrupt revocation of security clearance for Turkish ground handling firm Çelebi Airport Services India, operations at major Indian airports have remained largely unaffected, preventing potential chaos. The government rule mandating at least three ground handling agencies (GHA) for airports handling over a crore passengers annually has ensured that flights and passengers at most of the nine airports previously serviced by Çelebi experienced minimal disruption.

Following the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) order, airport operators swiftly reached out to other GHAs to fill the gap. Leading GHAs in India, including Air India Airport Services Ltd (AIASL), Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS), Bird Group's Bird Flight Services (BFS), and Agile Airport Services (of IndiGo), have stepped in to manage the ground handling services.

The transition from Çelebi to the interim handlers was completed within 24 hours. The handover included airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Cochin. Goa (Mopa) was an exception, where GMR Group made alternate arrangements. Kannur was also among the airports affected.

The swift action by airport operators and the willingness of other ground handlers to take on additional responsibilities ensured a smooth transition. A senior executive of an aviation services company stated that the temporary handling arrangement is being executed without profit motives, purely as a support initiative in the national interest to prevent disruption and maintain operational integrity.

The over 10,000 employees of Çelebi have been absorbed across interim handlers, preventing job losses. Approximately 35-40% of them have joined Bird Group, while the remainder have been placed with AISATS and AIASL. Fresh Airport Entry Passes (AEPs) are being issued to the staff in the name of the companies which have onboarded them. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has set a deadline of May 19 for the issuance of the new AEPs.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) regulations mandate that every airport with over 10 million annual passenger capacity needs at least three ground handlers. With Çelebi's exit, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport was initially left with only two ground handling service providers: Bird Group and Air India SATS. Airport operators will now issue tenders inviting bids for a third GHA to ensure compliance with DGCA regulations. Mumbai airport operator MIAL said that Indo Thai Airport Services will be carrying out the ground handling works at the airport for three months.

Ground handling services encompass a wide range of functions, including baggage handling, passenger check-in, aircraft servicing, and ramp operations. Efficient ground handling is crucial for the smooth functioning of airports and the overall travel experience. The seamless transition in the wake of Çelebi's exit demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of the Indian aviation industry.