Latest news with #Turkey-headquartered
Indian Express
23-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Bombay HC vacates interim order restraining Mumbai airport from deciding on bids to replace Celebi
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday vacated the interim protection granted to Turkey-headquartered airport ground handling and bridge mounting services major Celebi, which had restrained Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) from taking a final decision on tenders to replace the company's subsidiary until further orders. A single-judge bench of Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan referred to a recent Delhi High Court verdict of July 7, which rejected a writ petition by another Celebi subsidiary seeking suspension and annulment of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security's (BCAS's) cancellation of its security clearance in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. The BCAS, amid a backlash over Turkey's support for Pakistan during the India-Pakistan conflict, had in May revoked with immediate effect the security clearance of Celebi's Indian arm, citing 'national security'. The revocation led airports across India where the Celebi group operated, including MIAL, to terminate their contracts with the group companies, prompting the subsidiaries to approach the courts. The Bombay High Court had extended its interim order of May 26, awaiting the Delhi High Court verdict, noting that final permanent replacement of the petitioner would lead to 'irreparable injury' till then. The MIAL was directed not to give effect to the final appointment of a replacement operator till further orders. The high court had noted that after revocation of security clearance, Celebi had lost access to the MIAL premises. However, all its equipment and personnel remained the same and were placed under the control of another firm, Indo-Thai Airport Services, which is not carrying ground handling and bridge mounting services at Mumbai airport. 'Now that Delhi HC has repealed the writ petition, it is now clear that holding up the decision of finding a replacement is not possible and tenable. Continuation of interim protection is no longer reasonable and will not be in aid of arbitral proceedings. Ad-interim protection is vacated,' the high court noted on Wednesday. Justice Sundaresan was hearing two applications by Celebi Nas Airport Services India, filed under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act against Adani group-owned MIAL, seeking annulment of its termination of contracts with the petitioner. After it was informed that the conciliation process under contractual agreement between parties was underway, the judge said that in case the same fails, it was open for petitioner Celebi to agitate the same before an appropriate forum as and when such a relief is perceived to be necessary. Disposing of the arbitration pleas, Justice Sundaresan noted that the Delhi High Court, through its July 7 verdict, has not granted any protective relief to Celebi, and multiple high courts had also awaited the Delhi High Court decision. Meanwhile, a division bench of the Bombay High Court led by Justice B P Colabawalla is likely to hear on Thursday the writ petition filed by Celebi Nas against revocation of security clearance cancellation by BCAS. The division bench had deferred the hearing awaiting the Delhi High Court verdict.
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
HC defers Turkish firm Celebi's plea against revocation of security clearances, to await Delhi HC verdict
The Bombay High Court on Friday deferred till July 10, the hearing on the petition filed by subsidiary of Turkey-headquartered airport ground handling services major Celebi, seeking suspension and annulment of the security clearance cancellation by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). The HC decided to adjourn the hearing after it was informed that the Delhi HC judgment on the identical challenge was awaited. The BCAS, amid the backlash over Turkey's support for Pakistan in the India-Pakistan conflict, had last month revoked with immediate effect security clearance of the Indian arm of the Celebi citing 'national security'. The revocation led to airports in India where Celebi group operated including Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), terminating their contracts with the group companies, prompting the subsidiaries to approach the courts. The court was informed that seven airports including those in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai have terminated services of the petitioner. The MIAL had terminated the contract of Celebi's subsidiary Celebi Nas Airport Services India, which operated at the Mumbai airport. A bench of Justices Burgess P Colabawalla and Firdosh P Pooniwalla was hearing writ plea by Celebi Nas against revocation of security clearances. The Union of India, BCAS, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the regional office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) are made respondents in the matter. The bench noted that the issue raised by petitioner was identical to those raised by its sister concern before the Delhi HC and the same was heard and the judgment was reserved, which will be delivered in due course. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta representing the Central government submitted that the present writ plea be adjourned till the Delhi HC pronounces its verdict. The court noted that senior advocate Chetan Kapadia for the petitioner Turkish firm 'did not seriously oppose Mehta's request as the decision given by Delhi HC would certainly have bearing on present matter.' The HC will hear the plea next on July 10. Meanwhile, a single-judge bench of the Bombay HC of Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan on June 13 extended temporary relief granted to Celebi by vacation court. The vacation bench on May 26 had restrained MIAL from taking a final decision on tenders invited to replace Celebi's subsidiary till the matter is heard by the regular court. Justice Sundaresan was hearing two applications by Celebi Nas Airport Services India, filed under Section 9 of Arbitration and Conciliation Act against Adani group-owned MIAL seeking annulment of its termination of contracts with the petitioner. The vacation bench had directed the MIAL that till regular court hears the matter, a final appointment of replacement operator must not be given an effect. Justice Sundaresan has posted further hearing on arbitration pleas to June 17.
Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Air India to look for alternatives to MRO player Turkish Technic in view of ‘public sentiment'
Amid the backlash against Turkey in India over the former's support to Pakistan, Tata group airline Air India will be looking for alternatives to maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) service provider Turkish Technic, which currently performs heavy maintenance of some of its wide-body aircraft, according to Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson. 'We want to respect the public sentiment…We will be adjusting our plans. We will be reconsidering where we send our aircraft for maintenance, and we will try to find alternatives to Turkish Technic. But such a shift will take some time. It can't be overnight,' Wilson said. Air India is now expected to gradually start sending aircraft that were going to Turkish Technic for maintenance to other major MRO facilities in various regions like Southeast Asia, West Asia, and the US. India currently lacks MRO facilities for wide-body aircraft, and is heavily dependent on foreign MROs for services. In the wake of Operation Sindoor, there has been a growing clamour for a boycott of Turkey and a review of Turkish firms' presence in India as well as their association with Indian companies. Apart from Ankara's open support for Islamabad in the recent India-Pakistan military conflict, widespread use of Turkish drones by Pakistan in operations against India has added to the disapproval for Turkey in India, in public as well as the government. The Centre has already cancelled the security clearance of Turkey-headquartered airport ground handling major Celebi in the 'interest of national security', bringing its operations to a halt across nine Indian airports. In another action, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently rejected IndiGo's request to extend its damp lease of two Turkish Airlines Boeing 777 jets, allowing only a three-month last and final extension and that too on the condition that IndiGo will end its lease arrangement with Turkey's flag carrier. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers on Sunday said that the airline will comply with the government's decision on the damp leases. The airline was using the damp-leased Boring 777s—with over 500 seats each—for its flight to Istanbul from Delhi and Mumbai. The airline may now have to use narrow-body Airbus A320 family aircraft, which have less than half the seat capacity, for these flights from September. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
After cases in Delhi and Mumbai, Turkey-based Celebi takes legal battle to Madras High Court
After moving the Delhi High Court and the Bombay High Court, Turkey-headquartered airport ground handling major Celebi has now knocked on the doors of the Madras High Court as part of its legal battle against Indian aviation authorities and airports following the revocation of its security clearance in India—a key market—and the consequent termination of its contracts by various Indian airports. One of Celebi's Indian subsidiaries—Celebi GS Chennai Pvt Ltd—has filed two arbitration applications and a request for interim measures against the Airports Authority of India (AAI) before the Madras High Court against the termination of its contract at the AAI-operated Chennai International Airport. '…our subsidiary, Celebi GS Chennai Private Limited, 100% of whose capital belongs to our company, filed two arbitration applications with a request for interim measures against the Airports Authority of India at the High Court of Judicature at Madras on 26.05.2025 and 27.05.2025 regarding the unjust unilateral termination of the Ground Handling Concession Agreement regarding CGSC's operations in Chennai International Airport due to the cancellation of the security permit of CGSC by the Civil Aviation Security Bureau of the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India on the grounds that it poses a threat to national security,' parent company Celebi Hava Servici said in a regulatory filing in Istanbul. The lawsuits follow cases filed by three other Celebi subsidiaries—Celebi Airport Services India, Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India, and Celebi Nas Airport Services India—before the Delhi High Court and the Bombay High Court against the security clearance revocation and the resultant cancellation of Celebi contracts by the operators of Delhi and Mumbai airports. Amid the backlash in India over Turkey's support for Pakistan in the India-Pakistan conflict, India's aviation security regulator BCAS on May 15 revoked the security clearance of an Indian arm—Celebi Airport Services India—of Celebi on grounds related to 'national security' with immediate effect. The revocation also applies to other associate entities of Çelebi in India. This led to Indian airports terminating their contracts with Celebi group companies. Defending itself, Celebi Airport Services India said that it is 'truly an Indian enterprise' led and managed by Indian professionals, and is 'not a Turkish organisation by any standard'. Celebi, which operated through five subsidiaries at nine Indian airports, is challenging the revocation of its security clearance and the resultant cancellation of contracts by the airports before various courts. The company has argued before the courts that the revocation of its security clearance was in violation of due procedure and natural justice as the Centre suddenly cancelled the clearance without notice and any opportunity for the company to make its case. On its part, the government has argued that it can exercise its plenary powers in the interest of national security and aviation security. The Delhi High Court reserved its order in the case, while a vacation bench of the Bombay High Court granted temporary relief to Celebi by restraining Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) from finalising the tender to replace Celebi's subsidiary till the matter is heard by the regular court. India is an important market for Celebi, and the company's share price has declined almost 21 per cent since the revocation of its India security clearance. According to the company's regulatory filings, in its consolidated revenue of around $585 million in 2024, its five Indian arms cumulatively accounted for a 33.8 per cent share, which comes out to over $195 million. Celebi operated at nine Indian airports—Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Kannur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Goa (Mopa). The airports and airlines that were working with Celebi are turning to the other major ground handling players in India's aviation sector like AI Airport Services, Air India SATS Airport Services, the Bird group, and Indo Thai Aviation Services. Ground handling refers to operations that are critical for flights to be prepared and operated. These include passenger handling and check-in, baggage handling, cargo handling and management, aircraft servicing and maintenance, ramp services, and catering. Celebi Airport Services India said that it is a globally operated aviation services company with no political links or affiliation, and is majority-owned by international institutional investors. The company also termed as 'factually incorrect' the allegations about its ownership that have been doing rounds on social media. These include the claim that Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar—daughter of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—is a part owner in Celebi. The company categorically rejected this claim.
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Bombay HC grants temporary relief to Turkish firm Celebi, restrains MIAL from taking final decision on bids
In a temporary relief to Turkey-headquartered airport ground handling services major Celebi, a vacation bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday restrained Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) from taking a final decision on tenders invited to replace Celebi's subsidiary till the matter is heard by the regular court. A single bench of Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan was hearing two applications by Celebi's subsidiary Celebi Nas Airport Services India, which operated at the Mumbai airport, filed under Section 9 of Arbitration and Conciliation Act against Adani group-owned MIAL seeking annulment of its termination of contracts with the petitioner. The pleas, through senior advocate Chetan Kapadia, also sought urgent interim measure to restrain MIAL to conclude the tenders issued on May 17 for selection of a new ground handling agency for the Mumbai airport. The parent company Celebi Hava Servisi holds 59% of the capital in Celebi Nas. Justice Sundaresan said the order will operate until the matter is heard by a regular bench in June after summer vacation. The firm has also filed a separate writ petition seeking suspension and annulment of the security clearance cancellation by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). The Union of India, BCAS, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the regional office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) are made respondents in the matter. A division bench comprising two judges will hear the plea in due course. The BCAS, amidst the backlash over Turkey's support for Pakistan in the India-Pakistan conflict, had earlier this month revoked with immediate effect security clearance of the Indian arm of the Celebi citing 'national security'. The revocation led to airports in India where Celebi group operated, terminating their contracts with the group companies, prompting the subsidiaries to approach the courts. The subsidiary of the Turkish firm had approached the Bombay High Court on May 21 after its other subsidiaries Celebi Airport Services India and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India had moved the Delhi High Court against the security clearance revocation and the resultant cancellation of Celebi contracts by the Delhi airport operator. The Delhi HC on Friday, May 23 reserved its order on the plea.
