India Revokes Turkish Ground Handler’s Security Clearance

‍DALLAS — India has revoked the security clearance of Turkish-based ground handling firm Çelebi Airport Services, effectively halting its operations at nine major international airports, including Delhi International Airport (DEL) and Bengaluru International Airport (BLR). 

The move, announced by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on Thursday and first reported by livemint.com, cites national security concerns as the primary reason for the decision.

Çelebi’s expulsion follows heightened geopolitical tensions in the wake of India’s recent military operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, against Pakistan. The government alleges that Turkey, alongside China and Azerbaijan, supported Pakistan during and after the conflict. 

Ankara’s reported supply of weapons to Islamabad has drawn sharp criticism in New Delhi, leading to increased scrutiny of Turkish entities operating in India.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu emphasized that national security is non-negotiable: “We are deploying special teams to ensure operations continue smoothly and securely across all affected airports. "

Çelebi, in a public statement, denied all allegations, stressing that it is majority-owned by institutional investors from countries including Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. The company stated, “Çelebi Aviation India unequivocally refutes all allegations... and reaffirms its commitment to global standards of operation.”

Following BCAS’s order, DEL and BLR have ended ties with Çelebi. The former confirmed that Çelebi’s employees will be transitioned to new employers to maintain continuity, while the latter stated that alternate service providers are being mobilized to ensure operational stability.