Turkish aviation services provider Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security’s (BCAS) decision to revoke its security clearance, a move taken citing “national security” concerns.
The revocation, confirmed in a BCAS order, comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, following Turkey’s support for Pakistan and condemnation of India’s military strikes on terror camps across the border. The aviation security regulator said, “…the security clearance in respect of Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd is hereby revoked with immediate effect in the interest of national security.”
A lawyer involved in the matter confirmed that the plea was filed on Friday and is likely to be listed for hearing in the coming week.
Celebi, a subsidiary of Turkey’s Celebi Holding, has been operating in India for over 15 years and employs more than 10,000 people. It provides ground handling and cargo services at nine major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Goa, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Cochin, and Kannur. According to the company, it manages approximately 58,000 flights and 540,000 tonnes of cargo annually.
The security clearance that was recently revoked had originally been granted to the company in November 2022.
Following BCAS’s order, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) also terminated its contracts with Celebi’s India-based entities responsible for ground handling and cargo operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The two affected entities are Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India Pvt Ltd.
In response to the revocation, Celebi Aviation India issued a public statement asserting that it remains fully compliant with Indian aviation norms, national security guidelines, and tax laws, and operates with complete transparency. The company rejected any allegations related to its ownership or operational conduct and reaffirmed its commitment to serving the Indian aviation sector.
