Turkish Celebi Aviation licence revoked at 9 major Indian airports
Celebi is a ground handling agency that operates at nine airports --- Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Kannur, Chennai, and the MOPA airport in Goa
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the security wing of the civil aviation ministry, on Thursday revoked the licence of Celebi Aviation, the ground handling agency operating at nine major airports in India.
“In the 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,” an order issued on May 15 read.
Celebi Airport Services is a ground handling agency that operates at nine airports --- Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Kannur, Chennai, and the MOPA airport in Goa.
"Çelebi’s business in India is truly an Indian enterprise, led and managed by Indian professionals, deeply invested in the country, and committed to its growth. 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," a statement from the company read.
Celebi provides services to foreign airlines and cargo operators too. The ground handling agency was in the process of acquiring operations at Visakhapatnam Airport, according to officials.
Chief executive officer (CEO) of Celebi Ground Handling, in a letter to Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (MIAL) on Tuesday, said, “At the outset we want to clarify the record and emphasise that CNAS is purely a business organisation having no political affiliations or political views or alignment with any political views of any foreign country or its government.”
The statement was in response to a letter by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in Mumbai over the cancellation of operational permissions granted to the Turkish firm. Raising national security concerns, the party cited Turkey’s diplomatic alignment with Pakistan during past military tensions with India as the basis for its demand.
Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, in a letter to the airport had said that in the wake of ongoing geopolitical tensions and recent hostile statements, the government of Turkey extended support to Pakistan, which raises grave concerns. “As you are aware, Celebi NAS, a Turkish company, provides critical passenger and cargo ground handling services to various international and domestic airlines across Indian airports. Its continued presence and operations at Mumbai International Airport present potential risks and vulnerabilities which must not be overlooked,” Patel had said.
The letter written by the Celebi CEO, which has been seen by HT, clarified that the company operates as an Indian business. “Our business in India is truly an ‘Indian’ business, headed and managed by Indian citizens and deeply committed and invested in our local market in Mumbai. All investments were made through FIPB clearances as per FDI norms and none of the Board Directors are Turkish nationals, as is being alleged. Currently we are employing over 3000 Indian staff in Mumbai. We are a security cleared company by the relevant regulatory bodies in India and all our employees are deputed for operations at the airport, after due police verifications and thorough background checks,” it said.
“..CNAS is purely a business organisation having no political affiliations or political views or alignment with the political views of any foreign country or its government…,” it added.
