India Revokes Celebi Aviation Security Clearance Amid Turkey-Pakistan Ties
| 2025-05-16
Representative Image
India cancels security clearance of Turkish firm Celebi Aviation over national security concerns following Turkey’s support for Pakistan in Operation Sindoor.
India revokes Celebi Aviation’s security clearance over national security concerns
India has revoked the security clearance of Turkish ground handling firm Çelebi Aviation, which operates at nine major airports across the country, citing national security concerns following Ankara’s support for Pakistan during a recent military operation.
An official order issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed the revocation, stating it was implemented “in the interest of national security”. Çelebi, which manages ground and cargo handling services at key Indian airports including Delhi and Mumbai, has been under growing scrutiny amid deteriorating diplomatic relations between India and Turkey.
Worsening ties after Operation Sindoor
The decision follows heightened tensions between New Delhi and Ankara in the wake of Operation Sindoor — India’s targeted military strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. According to Indian officials, Turkey not only expressed vocal support for Islamabad but also allegedly facilitated military supplies.
Indian Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, stated: “Çelebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd is a Turkey-based company that provides ground services at many airports in the country. Turkey had openly supported Pakistan. In view of the current situation, this has become an issue of national security. Keeping security in mind, Çelebi has been banned in the country.”
India alleges that Turkish-made drones, including the Bayraktar TB2 and Asisguard SONGAR, were used against Indian targets during the May 8 escalation. Additionally, Turkish military assets, including a warship and an air force transport aircraft, were reported in Karachi shortly before and after the Indian strikes.
Company responds to allegations
Çelebi Aviation, in response, described itself as a global enterprise with a 65-year history in aviation services, operating across six countries. It emphasised that its Indian operations are locally managed and independent of foreign political influence.
“Our business in India is truly an Indian enterprise, led and managed by Indian professionals,” the company said in a statement. “We adhere fully to globally accepted practices of corporate governance, transparency, and neutrality, with no political affiliations or links to any foreign government or individuals.”
The company operates in two distinct capacities in India — through Çelebi Airport Services India for ground operations, and Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India for cargo services at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. Its services include ramp operations, flight load control, bridge management, cargo handling, and warehouse operations — all of which are considered highly sensitive from a security standpoint.
Fallout extends beyond aviation
The move against Çelebi comes amid a broader backlash against Turkey in India. Several Indian universities, including Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, have suspended academic partnerships with Turkish institutions. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) is also considering a complete trade boycott of Turkey and its ally Azerbaijan, following similar measures previously directed at China.
Social media campaigns calling for a boycott of Turkish goods and tourism have gained momentum. Travel operators have reported a sharp drop in bookings to Turkey, which relies heavily on tourism for its economy — nearly 12 per cent of its GDP comes from the sector.
India’s diplomatic posture has also shifted in recent years, with increased engagement with nations historically at odds with Turkey — including Greece, Armenia, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Analysts view this as part of a strategic recalibration in response to Turkey’s growing ties with Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
Security implications of Çelebi’s presence
Security experts have expressed concern over Çelebi’s proximity to sensitive airport zones in India. Its Delhi cargo terminal reportedly overlooks the VVIP technical area, which handles special aircraft used by top Indian officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Defence analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra raised alarms over a possible ownership link to Sumeyye Erdoğan, daughter of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Her husband, Selçuk Bayraktar, is the head of Baykar Technologies — the company that manufactures the Bayraktar drones used by Pakistan.
“The Celebi terminal in Delhi overlooks the VVIP technical area where electronic intelligence aircraft are stationed. Prime Minister Modi’s VIP aircraft comes in the vicinity. I don’t need to spell out that this is alarming,” Iyer-Mitra told News18.
Context: India-Turkey ties under strain
Relations between India and Turkey have grown increasingly strained over the past few years, particularly due to Ankara’s repeated criticism of India’s stance on Kashmir. President Erdoğan has raised the issue at international forums, drawing strong rebukes from New Delhi.
In contrast, India has deepened ties with countries seen as strategic counterweights to Turkey. Its partnerships with Greece and Armenia have expanded, and recent diplomatic overtures to Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE signal a deliberate pivot in India’s regional strategy.
The revocation of Çelebi’s clearance marks India’s first major public step against a Turkish company and highlights the growing interlinkage between economic decisions and geopolitical alignment.
Conclusion
The Indian government’s decision to revoke Çelebi Aviation’s security clearance underscores the intersection of commercial operations and national security in an increasingly polarised geopolitical climate. With diplomatic tensions on the rise and a growing public backlash against Turkey, further restrictions on Turkish enterprises in India cannot be ruled out.
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