 "Celebi kicked out, Mumbai airport signs agreement with Indothai for ground handling services")
Following the revocation of the security clearance for Turkey-based Celebi Aviation by the government of India, it is learnt that the Mumbai airport has signed an agreement with ground handling service provider Indothai to ensure seamless operations.
CNBC-TV18 is reporting that Indothai, a leading service provider of ground handling services at Indian airports, has secured approval from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security to manage the Mumbai airport.
Under the new regime, nearly 3,000 Celebi employees will be transferred to Indothai payroll.
The new agreement says Indothai will now take over Celebi’s assets and staff at the airport.
It means that new airport entry permits for these employees will be issued under Indothai’s name.
The Indian government had revoked Celebi’s security clearance in the aftermath of the India-Pakistan conflict, during which Turkey emerged as Islamabad’s key backer. Celebi had been handling ground services in 15 key airports around India, including Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI).
Founded in 1958, Celebi was Turkey’s first privately-owned ground handling firm. Over the years, it has grown into a global aviation services provider with a presence across three continents, six countries, and 70 airports worldwide. The company employs over 15,000 people.
A Moneycontrol report earlier revealed that Çelebi Aviation’s dealings with Indian carriers accounted for 25 per cent of the firm’s total business.
Indothai currently operates ground handling services at several Indian airports, including Pune, Kolkata, Amritsar, Varanasi, Calicut, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, and Jaipur.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsOf the nine airports where Celebi operated, Mumbai is the only one where a new operator has been appointed. At other locations, including Delhi International Airport, existing ground handlers — AISAL, AISATS, and Bird Worldwide Flight Services — have been tasked with absorbing Celebi’s staff and assets.
Celebi approaches Delhi High court
On May 16, Celebi Airport Services India filed a petition with the Delhi High Court, as reported by Reuters, urging the court to overturn the revocation of its security clearance. The company argued that the decision, made without prior warning, threatens 3,791 jobs and investor confidence.
“Mere rhetoric of national security without elaborating upon in what manner is an entity a threat to national security is unsustainable in law,” the company said in the filing, which is not public, Reuters reported.
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