Several ground handling companies, including the government-owned AIASL, Bird Worldwide Flight Services, and Indo Thai, have begun hiring staff who used to work for Celebi Airport Services India at different airports, industry officials said on Friday.
This comes after the government removed Celebi’s security clearance on Thursday, citing national security concerns. The Civil Aviation Ministry said they have made arrangements at all affected airports to make sure passenger and cargo services continue smoothly.
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The ministry also said they are trying to keep the employees who worked with Celebi so they can keep working.
Celebi had more than 10,000 employees. Officials said AIASL, AISATS, Bird Worldwide Flight Services, Indo Thai Airport Management Services, and others are now hiring these Celebi employees.
Earlier, Airport Entry Passes (AEPs) were issued to these staff under Celebi’s name. Now, new passes are being given in the name of the companies that have hired them. The security authority (BCAS) has set May 19 as the deadline to issue these new passes.
Celebi was providing services at nine airports — Mumbai, Delhi, Cochin, Kannur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Ahmedabad, and Chennai.
Airport operators will soon invite bids to appoint new ground handling service providers for these airports.
AIASL operates about 560 flights daily at around 85 airports in India and has about 20,000 employees. It has already hired hundreds of Celebi staff and is working to ensure smooth services at some airports where Celebi used to work.
One official said AIASL might also bring staff from other airports to make sure there are no disruptions.
Mumbai’s airport operator (MIAL) said Indo Thai Airport Services will handle ground operations there for three months. After ending its agreement with Celebi, Delhi airport operator (DIAL) handed the work to a company that already has security clearance for cargo operations, though the company’s name wasn’t disclosed.
Meanwhile, Celebi Airport Services India went to the Delhi High Court to challenge the security clearance removal by BCAS, which was done citing “national security.”
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This decision came after Turkey supported Pakistan and criticized India’s recent military strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan had also used Turkish drones during conflicts with India.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said national safety and interests come first and are not open for negotiation.
Poonam Verma Sengupta, a legal expert, said that ending the deal with Celebi shows India’s broader plan to protect itself by closely checking foreign companies operating in sensitive areas like airports.
She added that India wants future agreements to be fair, safe, and balanced with national interests in mind.
