Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, May 16: In a significant move aligned with national security interests, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) has terminated its agreements with Turkish ground handling company Celebi Airport Services and Chinese firm DragonPass.

The decision follows a stern directive by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which revoked Celebi’s security clearance amid widespread criticism against Turkey and Azerbaijan for supporting Pakistan after India’s Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.

GMR Airports Ltd also ended its partnership with Celebi at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, while AAHL terminated Celebi’s services at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

“All ground handling facilities will be handed over immediately to ensure seamless operations. Existing Celebi employees at the two airports will be absorbed by new agencies on the same employment terms,” said an AAHL spokesperson.

Celebi, however, denied allegations of political ownership and insisted it remains committed to India.

The company clarified it is majority-owned by institutional investors from countries like Canada, US, UK, Singapore, and UAE, and not by Turkish PM Erdogan’s daughter. It said it has operated in India for over 15 years, employing more than 10,000 Indians and investing over USD 220 million.

Meanwhile, AAHL also ended its lounge access agreement with Chinese firm DragonPass.

“DragonPass customers will no longer have access to lounges at Adani-managed airports. There will be no impact on other customers,” the company said.

The moves signal India’s toughened stance on firms with perceived foreign security risks following the Pahalgam attack.