Turkiye firm loses permit to operate at Indian airports

The Centre has revoked the security clearance of Turkish firm Celebi Airport Services, citing national security concerns.

The development comes against the backdrop of Turkiye supporting Pakistan during the recent hostilities between the two countries.

"In the exercise of power conferred upon the Director General, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the security clearance in respect of Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd is hereby revoked with immediate effect in the interest of national security," an official order by Joint Director, BCAS, Sunila Yadav, read.

The company had been operating in India for more than a decade at key gateway airports such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kannur, Goa (GOX), Ahmedabad and Chennai where it provides a range of services, including ramp, passenger and cargo handling, bridge operations and lounge management.

As per the Turkish firm's website, the company has around 7,800 employees in India.

Even though India and Pakistan, after engaging for four days, agreed to pause firing and shelling at the border on May 10, social media remained abuzz and enraged with Turkiye's unconditional support for Pakistan.

During a media briefing, the Indian armed forces had said Pakistan used advanced weaponry, including drones and missiles, provided by Turkiye and China to attack India. The drones were of Turkish origin, while the missiles had been supplied by China.

Air Marshal AK Bharti had even shown the footage of the remains of a Chinese PL-15 missile launched by Pakistan but shot down by the Indian forces.

Since then, calls for boycotting Turkish goods and tourism surfaced across the country, with online travel platforms such as EaseMyTrip, Cox & Kings and Ixigo issuing advisories against visiting these countries, while suspending all their travel packages to both nations.

Additionally, Indian travel brand — Go Homestays — has ended its partnership with Turkish Airlines, accusing the airline of supporting a nation unfriendly towards India.

Hours before the official order, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu had hinted at a possible action against the Turkish company.

"There is a security aspect and we are talking with security agencies. It is in our notice. We know what is happening and we will take a decision in the interest of the nation," Kinjarapu told reporters in Jammu.

Meanwhile, top sources have indicated that a thorough review of existing partnerships between domestic companies and those from Turkey in the aviation sector was being undertaken by the government.