Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd, GlobeGround India and Bird Flight Services are among the ground handling companies which stand to gain after the government revoked the security clearance granted to Turkish origin Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd.
Celebi, which provides ground handling and cargo services, has presence in nine airports of Mumbai, Delhi, Cochin, Kannur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Ahmedabad and Chennai. India is an important market for the company as out of the 1 million tonne cargo handled by Celebi globally, India operations comprised more than 50 per cent at 5,40,000 tonnes annually.
“The transition at Bangalore International Airport has happened smoothly and the ground handling activities which were undertaken by Celebi have now been transferred to Air India SATS Airport Services and GlobeGround India,” a senior official from the airport said.
Another senior official from GMR controlled Delhi International Airport outlined that the ground handling as well as the cargo terminal operations undertaken by Celebi have now been transferred to be operated by Air India SAT and Bird Group. Media has learned that transfer of operations to other ground handling companies have been made for an interim period and on non-profit basis, till new bids are invited by the airports.
Adani Group-operated Mumbai International Airport stated that the airport has terminated the ground handling concession agreements with Celebi at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) and accordingly Celebi has been directed to immediately hand over to us all ground handling facilities to ensure uninterrupted operations.
“We will continue to provide seamless service to all airlines without disruptions through new ground handling agencies selected by us. All existing employees of Celebi at CSMIA and SVPIA will be transferred to the new ground handling agencies on their existing terms and conditions of employment,” the airport said.
Delhi International Airport also highlighted that in addition, all employees currently on the rolls of Celebi entities for cargo and ground handling services at the airport, will be transitioned to the new employers with immediate effect and will continue under their existing terms and conditions of employment.
“Approximately 35–40 per cent of the workforce has joined Bird Group, while the rest have been placed with AI SATS and AI ASL (AI Airport Services Ltd). Importantly, no job losses.” said an official aware of the development.
On Thursday, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security revoked the security clearance to Celebi. The decision was taken in light of Turkish military’s support to Pakistan during ‘Operation Sindoor’ wherein Turkey provided military drones and associated support to Pakistan against India. Concerns were raised that the presence of a Turkish origin company at India’s major airports would pose security risk. Apart from civilian passenger aircraft and
at airports, Celebi also provided ground handling services for Indian military and government aircraft, according to the company’s website.
