Overview
- India's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security withdrew Çelebi’s security clearances on May 15, 2025, forcing the Turkish firm to stop ground‑handling and cargo work at nine major airports.
- The Delhi High Court dismissed Çelebi's legal challenge in July 2025 after reviewing confidential government material and citing compelling national security considerations.
- In a June 2026 interview Çelebi chair Canan Çelebioğlu said the action wiped out roughly $400–$500 million in business value, that equipment was seized, and that about 10,000 workers were transferred to other operators overnight, though court filings for two subsidiaries cited a lower jobs figure.
- Airport operators terminated Çelebi contracts and moved services to providers such as Air India SATS, Bird Worldwide Flight Services and GMR to keep flights and cargo moving.
- The episode highlights how state security decisions backed by classified evidence limit judicial remedies, leave Çelebi’s Indian assets listed for sale, and may prompt other foreign firms to reassess exposure in security‑sensitive infrastructure.