Latest news with #CelebiAirportServicesIndia
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
After cases in Delhi and Mumbai, Turkey-based Celebi takes legal battle to Madras High Court
After moving the Delhi High Court and the Bombay High Court, Turkey-headquartered airport ground handling major Celebi has now knocked on the doors of the Madras High Court as part of its legal battle against Indian aviation authorities and airports following the revocation of its security clearance in India—a key market—and the consequent termination of its contracts by various Indian airports. One of Celebi's Indian subsidiaries—Celebi GS Chennai Pvt Ltd—has filed two arbitration applications and a request for interim measures against the Airports Authority of India (AAI) before the Madras High Court against the termination of its contract at the AAI-operated Chennai International Airport. '…our subsidiary, Celebi GS Chennai Private Limited, 100% of whose capital belongs to our company, filed two arbitration applications with a request for interim measures against the Airports Authority of India at the High Court of Judicature at Madras on 26.05.2025 and 27.05.2025 regarding the unjust unilateral termination of the Ground Handling Concession Agreement regarding CGSC's operations in Chennai International Airport due to the cancellation of the security permit of CGSC by the Civil Aviation Security Bureau of the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India on the grounds that it poses a threat to national security,' parent company Celebi Hava Servici said in a regulatory filing in Istanbul. The lawsuits follow cases filed by three other Celebi subsidiaries—Celebi Airport Services India, Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India, and Celebi Nas Airport Services India—before the Delhi High Court and the Bombay High Court against the security clearance revocation and the resultant cancellation of Celebi contracts by the operators of Delhi and Mumbai airports. Amid the backlash in India over Turkey's support for Pakistan in the India-Pakistan conflict, India's aviation security regulator BCAS on May 15 revoked the security clearance of an Indian arm—Celebi Airport Services India—of Celebi on grounds related to 'national security' with immediate effect. The revocation also applies to other associate entities of Çelebi in India. This led to Indian airports terminating their contracts with Celebi group companies. Defending itself, Celebi Airport Services India said that it is 'truly an Indian enterprise' led and managed by Indian professionals, and is 'not a Turkish organisation by any standard'. Celebi, which operated through five subsidiaries at nine Indian airports, is challenging the revocation of its security clearance and the resultant cancellation of contracts by the airports before various courts. The company has argued before the courts that the revocation of its security clearance was in violation of due procedure and natural justice as the Centre suddenly cancelled the clearance without notice and any opportunity for the company to make its case. On its part, the government has argued that it can exercise its plenary powers in the interest of national security and aviation security. The Delhi High Court reserved its order in the case, while a vacation bench of the Bombay High Court granted temporary relief to Celebi by restraining Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) from finalising the tender to replace Celebi's subsidiary till the matter is heard by the regular court. India is an important market for Celebi, and the company's share price has declined almost 21 per cent since the revocation of its India security clearance. According to the company's regulatory filings, in its consolidated revenue of around $585 million in 2024, its five Indian arms cumulatively accounted for a 33.8 per cent share, which comes out to over $195 million. Celebi operated at nine Indian airports—Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Kannur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Goa (Mopa). The airports and airlines that were working with Celebi are turning to the other major ground handling players in India's aviation sector like AI Airport Services, Air India SATS Airport Services, the Bird group, and Indo Thai Aviation Services. Ground handling refers to operations that are critical for flights to be prepared and operated. These include passenger handling and check-in, baggage handling, cargo handling and management, aircraft servicing and maintenance, ramp services, and catering. Celebi Airport Services India said that it is a globally operated aviation services company with no political links or affiliation, and is majority-owned by international institutional investors. The company also termed as 'factually incorrect' the allegations about its ownership that have been doing rounds on social media. These include the claim that Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar—daughter of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—is a part owner in Celebi. The company categorically rejected this claim.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Celebi contract: Bombay HC stops MIAL from final call on bids till June
The Bombay High Court on Monday passed an interim order that restricts Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) from taking a final decision to replace Celebi, a Turkish ground-handling services firm. The order has stalled MIAL from inviting tenders to replace Celebi till June. A vacation bench of Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan said no final decision shall be taken on the tenders till the pleas filed by Celebi are heard post the reopening of the court in June. Last week, Celebi's subsidiary Celebi Nas Airport Services India, which operates at the Mumbai airport, moved the high court against the revocation of its security clearance and subsequent termination of its contract with MIAL. Three petitions were filed by the firm challenging the Centre's decision to revoke the security clearance and terminate the contract. Why is MIAL replacing Celebi Earlier this month, amid backlash against Turkiye for supporting Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, India's aviation security regulator, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), revoked the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India on grounds related to national security with immediate effect. The revocation also applies to other associate entities of the firm in India, leading Indian airports to end contracts with Celebi. Earlier this month, two other Celebi subsidiaries — Celebi Airport Services India and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India — moved the Delhi High Court against the revocation of security clearance and cancellation of contracts by the Delhi airport operator.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Delhi HC reserves order on Celebi's petition against revocation of security clearance
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its verdict on a petition filed by Turkish company Celebi Airport Services India, which is challenging the Centre government's decision to cancel its security clearance. This move had led to the firm being removed from its duties at the airports in Delhi and Mumbai. The government decided a recent four-day conflict between India and Pakistan, during which Turkey had publicly supported Pakistan. In response, Celebi approached the HC, claiming that the cancellation was unfair and that it was not given a proper chance to defend itself. Justice Sachin Datta reserved the decision after hearing final arguments from Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who represented Celebi in court. Rohatgi argued that the company had been punished without being told clearly what it had done wrong. He said that according to Indian aviation rules, especially Rule 12 of the Aircraft Rules, 2023, a company should receive a fair warning and a proper explanation before such strict action is taken. He told the court that the government must explain its reasons in writing, not just keep them to itself. 'You cannot punish a company like this without saying what it is being punished for,' he explained.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
No prior notice to Celebi due to national security concerns: Centre tells Delhi HC
NEW DELHI: The central government told the Delhi High Court on Thursday that it could not give prior notice or a chance to be heard to Turkish ground handling company Celebi Airport Services India before revoking its security clearance, citing national security concerns linked to the India-Pakistan conflict. Representing the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said before Justice Sachin Datta that when it comes to matters of security, swift and decisive action must be taken. 'In cases involving national security, it's not about procedures. We either act or we don't. These are decisions based on protecting the country,' Mehta explained. He pointed to Section 5 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, which allows the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security to carry out regulatory oversight on civil aviation safety and security matters. He called this case 'unusual' and referred to possible threats at airports. Celebi, a company that handles cargo and ground services at airports, was said to have access to sensitive information. 'Many airlines can't afford their own staff and rely on companies like Celebi. These operators handle critical systems, they know flight timings, VIP movement, and luggage details,' Mehta added. Responding to Celebi's argument that they were not given a chance to respond before their clearance was cancelled, Mehta said such a step could undermine the very reason behind the decision. 'When the country faces unpredictable situations, explaining the move or giving a hearing can sometimes defeat the purpose,' he argued.
India.com
18-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
Boycott Turkey: Modi govt punishes Ankara for supporting Pakistan, Turkish firm loses Rs 2500 loss in just two days due to...
(File) Boycott Turkey: India's moves to hurt Turkey financially are already showing its impact as the market cap of Celebi Hava Servisi– a Turkish airport ground handling company– has tanked by $293 million (over Rs 2,500 crore), in just two days. According to market data, the company's shares witnessed a decline of nearly 20 percent on Thursday and Friday, a downward spiral experts attribute to India revoking the security clearance of Turkish firm's subsidiaries citing national security concerns. In a statement, the Istanbul-based firm said it will challenge the Indian government's decision using administrative and legal remedies, while highlighting that its Indian operations form a major chunk of its annual revenue. The Turkish firm revealed that more than a third of its $585 million revenue in 2024 came from its Indian subsidiaries. BCAS revokes security clearance On Thursday, India's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India with immediate effect, which affected all of Turkish firm's affiliated units operating in the country. Responding to the government's move, Celebi Hava Servisi stated that its Indian operation is 'truly an Indian enterprise' managed by Indian professionals and 'is not a Turkish organisation by any standards.' The revocation of the Istanbul-headquartered firm's security clearance is one of the several decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government to hurt Turkey economically after the country openly supported Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan clash. Celebi challenges government order as market caps tanks According to reports, after Indian government's action, Celebi shares on Borsa Istanbul closed 10 percent lower at 2,224 Turkish lira on Thursday and fell another 10 percent to 2,002 TL on Friday, leading to multiple trading halts, and the company losing Rs 2,500 crore in market valuation in two days. In a regulatory filing, Celebi Airport Services India said it will pursue all administrative and legal remedies against the government's orders, and called allegations levelled against it as 'baseless'. The firm stressed that its subsidiaries have always complied with Indian laws and have never posed any threat to national security. The Turkey-based company has challenged its revocation of security clearance in the Delhi High Court, and the plea is expected to be heard on Monday. Over 10,ooo Indians work for Celebi Celebi Hava Servisi entered the Indian market in 2009, and has invested over $250 million since, employing more than 10,000 Indian nationals to run its Indian operation across nine airports in the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, through five different subsidiaries. Celebi Airport Services India, the group's largest subsidiary, had operations at six airports, before its security clearance was revoked. Celebi owned by Erdogan's daughter? Meanwhile, social media has been rife with rumors claiming the company's ownership was linked to Sumeyye Erdogan Bayraktar, the daughter of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. However, Celebi has refuted these claims as 'factually incorrect', stating that its majority stake is held by international institutional investors, with no political affiliations, and no connections to Erdogan's daughter.
