Recent military tensions between India and Pakistan have put Turkey's role in sharp relief, specifically its sale of armed drones and drone operators to Islamabad.
What has raised Indian eyebrows, however, is that Celebi Aviation—a Turkish joint-venture firm—is responsible for critical ground and cargo handling operations at eight of India's most important airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.
The company reportedly handles some 58,000 flights a year across these hubs.
Celebi Aviation's roles in India cover a range of highly regulated and sensitive activities. These involve ground handling, cargo coordination, and airside services—all tasks that are of high-security due to the fact that they occur in areas of the airport that are off-limits and involve direct contact with aircraft, travelers' luggage, and international freight.
India's tensions escalated following targeted strikes by India on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) on May 7 under "Operation Sindoor." Pakistan responded by trying to flood India's air defence systems, allegedly with tactical support from Turkey, including not just military drones but also experienced operators, as per sources quoted by India Today TV. This indicated active Turkish cooperation in a military operation against India.
Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ankara has been moving closer to Pakistan, especially on the issue of Kashmir, taking a more Islamist approach to geopolitics on the world stage. Even as India extended humanitarian aid to Turkey during the catastrophic 2023 earthquake—via "Operation Dost"—the news that Turkish officials assisted in an attack on Indian targets has led to reevaluation of bilateral trust.
This development puts a spotlight on Celebi Aviation, whose operations in Indian airports might now be viewed through a lens of national security concern. The company services several leading Indian and international airlines, including IndiGo and Air India.
Celebi’s Footprint in India
Celebi started its India venture in 2008, entering the country initially through a joint venture at Mumbai International Airport for ground handling services. In one year, it officially registered two business entities, Celebi Airport Services India, which specialized in ground handling, and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India, specializing in cargo services at Delhi international airport.
Since then, Celebi has spread its wings big time, now having operations at nine airports across the country—Mumbai, Delhi, Cochin, Kannur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Ahmedabad, and Chennai. The services of the company span a wide spectrum: passenger and baggage handling, load and flight operations, ramp services, general aviation, postal and cargo logistics, warehousing, and bridge operations.
With a workforce of 7,800 employees, Celebi processes over 5.4 lakh tons of cargo annually, according to its website. A report by Moneycontrol highlights that approximately 75% of Celebi’s business comes from foreign airlines, with the remaining 25% catering to Indian carriers. The firm is reportedly looking to partner with more global airlines, including Lion Air, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, and American Airlines.
Earlier in 2016, Celebi had even shown interest in taking over the ground handling unit of Air India—AIASL—during the privatisation attempt of the national carrier, which showed long-term strategic intentions in the Indian aviation industry.
Celebi Ground Handling was founded in 1958 and was Turkey's first private ground-handling service provider. Presently, Celebi Aviation has operations in 70 airports in six countries and three continents, which highlights its global presence.
Security Scrutiny
In view of its role, Celebi's Indian personnel have to go through stringent security procedures such as background checking and Airport Entry Passes (AEPs) from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). As a registered Indian operator, Celebi cannot escape its Turkish origins and recent geopolitical tensions that might create tension due to the delicate nature of its airport activities.
As India reassesses strategic alliances and examines vulnerabilities in national infrastructure, Celebi operations are likely to face closer examination—particularly against the backdrop of Turkey's military cooperation with Pakistan.
Read also| India's Defence Budget Surges Over 100% in 11 Years to Strengthen Armed Forces
