Mumbai airport appoints interim ground handler after security clearance revoked for Celebi

MUMBAI: Within 24 hours of Celebi’s exit from the ground handling scene, the Mumbai airport operator appointed an interim service provider to ensure that airlines and passengers are not affected.Celebi’s ground handling equipment will be leased by this company, and its employees will be transferred to this interim service provider to ensure continuity of service, said Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) on Friday.A day earlier, on Thursday, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), citing national security concerns, revoked the security clearance granted to Celebi Airport Services, a ground handling company headquartered in Turkey. The action came following Turkey’s support of Pakistan in the recent hostilities. The order, enforced with immediate effect, meant airlines that had given ground handling contracts to Celebi would be hit with flight delays.Ground handling companies carry out security-sensitive jobs such as loading and unloading of bags, cargo, cleaning aircraft, fuelling, and passenger check-in.Following the BCAS order against Celebi, the Mumbai airport operator said it held a joint meeting with the affected airlines. “Indo Thai Airport Services — a certified ground handler currently operating at nine airports across India — has been appointed as the interim ground handling provider at the Mumbai airport for the next three months, effective immediately. Indo Thai Airport Services will work with Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) to provide the highest level of service aimed at meeting the existing Service Level Agreements (SLA) and conditions,” said an MIAL spokesperson.“The operator will facilitate the transfer of all existing employees of Celebi NAS at Mumbai airport to Indo Thai Airport Services on their existing terms and conditions of employment, thus ensuring no loss of employment and continued service delivery to airline partners. All ground handling equipment currently owned by Celebi NAS will be leased by Indo Thai Airport Services, in order to maintain continuity of service,” it added.“Within the next three days, MIAL will initiate the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for onboarding a long-term ground handling partner. This partner will be onboarded in the next three months,” MIAL said, adding that it has assured all airlines that ground handling operations will remain unaffected, and operations at Mumbai airport will continue seamlessly and without any disruption.Celebi has a significant footprint in India, offering ground handling services at nine airports, including Delhi, Cochin, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Goa. The firm also operates cargo services through Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India.Following the order to revoke Celebi’s security clearance with immediate effect, the ministry of civil aviation announced that arrangements have been made at all affected airports to ensure seamless handling of passengers and cargo. Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said: “We are also deploying special teams to oversee operations and address any emerging issues in real time. We will continue to uphold national security while ensuring ease of travel and cargo movement across the country.”