Mumbai Airport Appoints Indo Thai Airport Services As Interim Ground Handler After Termination Of Turkish Firm Celebi's Contract

Mumbai: Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has appointed ‘Indo Thai Airport Services’ as an interim ground handling provider after it terminated its agreement with Turkish company Celebi on Thursday.

On Friday, a joint meeting was held at Mumbai Airport with all affected airlines to enable a smooth and stable transition of ground handling services from Celebi NAS Airport Services. The meeting resulted in the appointment of Indo Thai Airport Services to be appointed as the interim ground handling provider at CSMIA for the next three months with immediate effect.

According to CSMIA’s operator Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), Indo Thai Airport Services, a certified ground handler currently operating at nine airports across India, will work with MIAL to provide the highest level of service aimed at meeting the existing service level agreements (SLA) and conditions.

CSMIA has also said to facilitate the transfer of all existing employees of Celebi NAS at CSMIA 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.

Moreover, MIAL will initiate the request for proposal (RFP) process for onboarding a long-term ground handling partner within the next three days. It expects to onboard a partner in the next three months.

“MIAL has assured all airline partners that ground handling operations will remain unaffected, and operations at CSMIA will continue seamlessly and without any disruption. MIAL remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of service for passengers and airlines, protecting employee welfare, and serving the national interest,” said a spokesperson of Mumbai Airport.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation on Thursday revoked the security clearance of the Turkish ground handling services company Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd. citing national security interest. Various airport operators also followed and announced breaking ties with the Turkish company.

GMR Airports Ltd. terminated the ground handling concession agreements with Celebi at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, and AAHL terminated the agreement with the Turkish company at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

Turkey and Azerbaijan are facing widespread criticism from across the country for expressing solidarity with Pakistan after India launched Operation Sindoor to avenge the killing of 26 tourists in a terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam.