Why was Celebi Aviation’s license cancelled in India?

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has cancelled the license and revoked the security clearance of Çelebi Aviation in India. This move has forced the company to stop all its ground handling operations at Indian airports.

Çelebi Aviation provided ground handling services at nine major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. The company now faces a complete operational halt in India. Following the cancellation, the Adani Group, which operates Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports, terminated its agreement with Çelebi and ordered an immediate handover of its facilities.

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport operator DIAL also cut ties with Çelebi for both cargo and ground services. Other airports where the company operated are expected to do the same. Airport authorities have said services will continue without disruption, as new agencies will take over and existing employees will be retained on the same terms.

BCAS cited "national interest" as the reason behind the cancellation, but did not provide detailed explanations. The action comes amid increasing diplomatic tensions between India and Turkey.

What is Çelebi Aviation?

Çelebi Aviation is a Turkish company that offers airport ground handling, cargo services, and general aviation support. Founded in 1958, it was Turkey’s first private ground handling firm and now operates in 70 locations globally.

In India, Çelebi entered the market via Mumbai airport and expanded to nine airports. Its services include passenger check-in, baggage handling, cargo operations, and aircraft servicing. Çelebi says it has invested over $220 million in India and directly employs more than 10,000 people.

What is the reason behind cancellation?

While BCAS has not shared full details, the decision is widely linked to national security concerns.

BCAS cited “national interest” as the reason for its decision, although no detailed explanation was given. The move follows recent diplomatic tensions between India and Turkey. Turkey and its ally Azerbaijan had publicly criticized India’s counter-terrorism operations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Indian authorities view Çelebi’s presence at key airports as a potential risk, especially given the growing backlash over Turkey’s support for Pakistan.

There have also been social media claims suggesting political ties between Çelebi and the Turkish government. Çelebi India has denied these claims, saying it operates independently, is led by Indian professionals, and has no political affiliations. The company also rejected claims linking it to the Turkish president’s daughter.

What happens next?

With its license revoked, Çelebi can no longer operate in Indian airports. Other ground handling agencies such as AI Airport Services, Air India SATS, and Bird Group are expected to fill the gap.

Çelebi may seek legal or diplomatic routes to challenge the decision. However, since the cancellation is linked to national security, the chances of regulatory flexibility remain low. The company’s future in India remains uncertain.

In response, Çelebi Aviation India denied any political links and said it operates independently from its Turkish parent company. It claimed to be an Indian enterprise led by Indian professionals and owned by global institutional investors. It also rejected viral social media claims that the Turkish president’s daughter is part of the company’s ownership.

Çelebi handled over 58,000 flights and 540,000 tonnes of cargo annually in India, employing more than 10,000 people. The company says it has invested over $220 million in infrastructure in the country.

With its license revoked, Çelebi may explore legal or diplomatic options to return. But with national security at the center of the decision, its future in India remains uncertain.

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