Turkey Firm Handling High-Security Tasks At 9 Indian Airports Under Govt Lens – News18

Last Updated:May 15, 2025, 08:52 is

Celebi began operations in India in 2008 and its services include passenger handling, ramp operations, flight operations, cargo and postal services and general aviation support

In the aftermath of the India-Pakistan conflict, in which Turkey helped Pakistan with drones, government sources suggest India is likely to review contracts given to Turkey-based Celebi Aviation, which handles high-security tasks at nine Indian airports, including in the national capital Delhi and economic capital Mumbai.

Though there is no time frame given by the government, sources suggest the government will begin by reviewing financial relations where national security is directly linked. Celebi falls under that category. Earlier, government sources told News18 that India will severe trade ties, should it come to this, given Turkey’s role of supporting a “terror state”.

Not just from national security but also from a political angle, the government is under pressure to be seen to be acting decisively. On Monday, Shiv Sena leader Murji Patel led a delegation to the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), urging them to end their association with Celebi NAS Airport Services, which currently handles around 70 per cent of the ground operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The Maharashtra opposition leader issued a 10-day ultimatum to MIAL to cancel the contract, warning of protests if no action is taken.

But politics is just a small part of it. The bigger concern is its national security vulnerabilities. Defence analyst Abhijit Mitra Iyer told News18: “The matter is far more serious than it appears to be. We suspect around 10 per cent of the firm is owned by Sumeyye Erdogan, daughter of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Sumeyye Erdogan is married to Selçuk Bayraktar, the man who produces Bayraktar drones which Pakistan used against India. The Celebi terminal in Delhi overlooks the VVIP technical area where electronic intelligence aircraft are stationed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s VIP aircraft comes in the vicinity. I don’t need to spell out that this is alarming.”

Aviation consultant Sanjay Lazar claims Celebi was granted security clearance, ironically after 26/11, when the UPA government was in power. “Many aviation trade unions affiliated to the Shiv Sena, (including ours) under late Balasaheb Thackeray-ji had vigorously opposed the entry of Celebi…”, he said on social media. Lazar adds that Celebi tried to cover up their Turkish ownership whenever the issue surfaced due to friction with India.

Celebi began operations in India in 2008 and has since expanded to nine airports: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Goa (Manohar International), and Kannur. It provides ground handling, cargo, and aviation services through two main entities: Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd. for ground handling and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India Pvt Ltd for cargo services. Services include passenger handling, ramp operations, load control, flight operations, cargo and postal services, warehouse management, bridge-mounted equipment, and general aviation support. Celebi handles over 58,000 flights and 540,000 tons of cargo annually in India, employing around 7,800 staff.

But with Turkey taking a clear side in India’s conflict with Pakistan and arming them with drones, the firm is now under the government’s lens.

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