Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. (image-X/CSMIA_Official)

In a sweeping fallout following the Centre’s revocation of security clearance to Turkey-headquartered ground handling company Çelebi, Adani Group-operated Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) have terminated their ground handling concession agreements with Çelebi.

The move, coming a day after Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) severed ties with the company in a coordinated industry-wide disengagement from the firm. Both airports have instructed Çelebi to immediately hand over all ground handling facilities to ensure uninterrupted operations.

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“We will continue to provide seamless service to all airlines without disruptions through new ground handling agencies selected by us,” said airport spokespersons in a joint statement. All existing Çelebi employees at Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports will be transitioned to the new agencies on their current terms and conditions, it added.

DIAL, which operates Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, had earlier confirmed that it was working with alternate ground and cargo handlers to maintain operational continuity. It also assured a smooth transition for all employees on Çelebi’s rolls.

The airports’ actions follow a major development on Thursday, when India’s aviation security regulator, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), revoked the security clearance granted to Çelebi Airport Services India and its associate entities. The government cited “national security” concerns, amid rising diplomatic tensions with Turkey, which has publicly supported Pakistan in the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict.

While Çelebi India defended itself as a “truly Indian enterprise” managed by Indian professionals and “not a Turkish organisation by any standard”, the regulatory decision effectively halts its operations across India.

The company had a substantial presence at nine airports, including Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kannur, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Goa (Mopa). It reportedly handled over 58,000 flights and 540,000 tonnes of cargo annually, employing more than 10,000 Indians.

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The backlash against Turkish entities in India has intensified over Ankara’s support for Pakistan and the use of Turkish drones by Pakistan during recent military operations.

In response, Çelebi India issued a media statement distancing itself from political affiliations and asserting that it is majority-owned by international institutional investors. It also denied viral social media claims linking Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar, daughter of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to the company’s ownership, calling such reports “factually incorrect.”