Turkish firm's airport security clearance revoked

The militaries of India and Pakistan decided on Thursday to work further on confidence-building measures and agreed not to initiate any aggressive or inimical actions against each other.

- S LALITHA @ New Delhi

INDIA on Thursday evening revoked the security clearance given for the Turkish-based ground handling firm, Celebi Airport Services Pvt Ltd. The reason cited in the order issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which comes under the ambit of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, was in the interest of national security. The move is set to have a crippling effect on the aviation industry in India as it dominates these services at nine airports.

Celebi is responsible for ground handling at the airports in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kannur, Chennai, Goa, Ahmedabad and Cochin.

The order said, "The security clearance in respect of Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd under the category Ground Handling Agency was approved by DG, BCAS vide letter no 15/99/2022-Delhi BCAS/E-219110 dated 21.11.2022. In the exercise of power conferred upon DG, BCAS, the security clearance in r/o Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd is hereby revoked with immediate effect in the interest of national security."