As of May 15, 2025, a storm is brewing in India’s aviation world. Çelebi Aviation, a Turkish company, and Turkish Airlines are under fire for their deep ties to India’s airports amid rising tensions between India and Turkey. Çelebi handles ground operations at nine major Indian airports, while Turkish Airlines partners with big players like IndiGo and Air India. But recent events, like Turkey’s support for Pakistan during the India-Pakistan conflict after Operation Sindoor, have raised red flags. Many are worried about security risks, political connections, and the impact on India’s aviation sector. Let’s dig into the concerning details, the history of these companies in India, and what this means for the country, all in simple terms.
Çelebi Aviation’s Big Role in Indian Airports
Çelebi Aviation, a Turkish company founded in 1958, has been a major player in India since 2008. It operates at nine airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai, handling over 58,000 flights and 540,000 tons of cargo yearly, as reported by India Today in May 2025. Çelebi provides ground handling, cargo management, and passenger services, often in high-security areas like airside zones near aircraft. In Mumbai, it controls 70% of ground operations at the international airport, according to BusinessToday. While Çelebi’s services are efficient, its Turkish roots are causing unease, especially after Turkey openly backed Pakistan during recent conflicts with India, raising questions about its presence in sensitive airport zones.
How Çelebi Entered India
Çelebi started in India with a joint venture at Mumbai International Airport in 2008, as noted by Freepress Journal in May 2025. Within a year, it set up two companies: Çelebi Airport Services India for ground handling and Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India for cargo at Delhi International Airport. Over the years, it expanded to nine airports, including Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. Çelebi even handled high-profile events like the G20 summit in Delhi in 2023, managing VIP ground services. Despite opposition from groups like Shiv Sena during its entry—especially after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks—Çelebi gained security clearances under the UPA government. This history of rapid growth and access to critical airport operations is now under scrutiny.
The Security Concerns at Play
Çelebi’s role in high-security tasks, like cargo handling and airside operations, is alarming to many, as highlighted by India Today on May 14, 2025. Its staff work near aircraft and manage sensitive cargo, areas prone to risks like espionage or sabotage. Posts on X have flagged concerns about Çelebi’s ownership ties to Turkey’s leadership, claiming it’s part-owned by President Erdoğan’s daughter, Sumeyye, whose husband, Selçuk Bayraktar, makes drones used by Pakistan against India. While Çelebi denies political ties in a letter to Mumbai International Airport Ltd, reported by The Hindu BusinessLine on May 15, 2025, the fear remains. With Turkey’s recent support for Pakistan, many worry that Çelebi’s presence at key airports could pose a national security threat to India.
Turkish Airlines’ Deep Ties with Indian Carriers
Turkish Airlines has strong connections with India’s aviation sector, which is now raising eyebrows. Since 2018, it has a codeshare deal with IndiGo, India’s largest airline, allowing seamless travel between the two, as per Livemint in May 2025. Turkish Airlines also has an interline agreement with Air India, a Star Alliance partner, for shared flights. It operates daily flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul, and even leases planes to IndiGo and Corendon Airlines for domestic routes. In February 2025, Turkish Technic signed deals with Air India Express for Boeing 737 maintenance and with IndiGo for Airbus A320 checks, according to Livemint. These ties, while commercially sound, are now under scrutiny due to Turkey’s political stance against India, especially after supporting Pakistan in the recent conflict.
Codeshare and Leasing Deals
The codeshare partnership between Turkish Airlines and IndiGo, started in 2018, lets passengers book connecting flights easily, as noted by Livemint on May 14, 2025. Turkish Airlines also leases widebody planes to IndiGo, with the first damp-leased aircraft arriving in May 2023. IndiGo uses Turkish-registered planes from Corendon Airlines to meet capacity needs. Air India Express, meanwhile, signed a deal with Turkish Technic in February 2025 for maintenance of its 190 Boeing aircraft, covering everything from nose-to-tail checks. These agreements help Indian airlines grow, but they also tie them closely to Turkey. With Turkey’s recent actions—like supplying drones to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor—posts on X and public sentiment are pushing for these deals to be reconsidered, citing potential risks to India’s aviation security.
Turkey’s Support for Pakistan
Turkey’s backing of Pakistan during the India-Pakistan conflict has fueled anger in India, as reported by BusinessToday on May 14, 2025. After Operation Sindoor in May 2025, where India targeted terrorist bases, Turkey openly supported Pakistan, even supplying drones and operatives, according to India Today. Reports of Turkish military planes flying between Turkey and Pakistan, possibly carrying equipment, added to the tension, as noted by Livemint. This isn’t new—Turkey has long supported Pakistan on issues like Kashmir, often clashing with India’s stance. With Turkish Airlines so embedded in India’s aviation, many fear these political ties could lead to risks, like intelligence leaks or disruptions. Calls to boycott Turkish Airlines are growing, with some on X demanding a suspension of its operations in India.
Political Connections That Raise Eyebrows
One of the most alarming facts is Çelebi’s alleged ties to Turkey’s leadership. Posts on X from May 2025 claim Çelebi is part-owned by Sumeyye Erdoğan, daughter of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Sumeyye’s husband, Selçuk Bayraktar, heads Baykar, a company that makes drones used by Pakistan against India. While Çelebi’s CEO in India, Tauseef Khan, denied these political links in a letter to Mumbai International Airport Ltd on May 15, 2025, as per The Hindu BusinessLine, the claims persist. Khan stated that 65% of Çelebi’s shares are held by international investors and its Indian operations are run by Indian citizens. Still, the connection to Erdoğan’s family, even if unproven, has sparked fears of political influence in India’s sensitive airport operations.
Erdoğan’s Family and Çelebi
The alleged link between Çelebi and Erdoğan’s family is a big concern. Posts on X, including one by @vivekgujrati on May 15, 2025, claim Sumeyye Erdoğan has a stake in Çelebi, though no official records confirm this. Sumeyye’s husband, Selçuk Bayraktar, is the chairman of Baykar, which produces Bayraktar drones—used by Pakistan in recent conflicts with India, as noted by India Today. This connection, even if indirect, worries many in India. Çelebi operates in high-security areas at airports like Delhi and Mumbai, handling cargo and aircraft access. If these ownership claims are true, some fear Turkey could use Çelebi’s position to gather intelligence or support anti-India activities, especially given Turkey’s stance on the India-Pakistan conflict.
Calls for Suspension and Boycotts
The backlash has been swift. On May 14, 2025, Shiv Sena leader Murji Patel led a delegation to Mumbai International Airport Ltd, demanding Çelebi’s contract be ended, as reported by BusinessToday. They gave a 10-day ultimatum, citing national security risks after Turkey’s support for Pakistan. On X, users like @Sudhirksha have called for suspending both Çelebi and Turkish Airlines, warning of espionage and sabotage risks. Public sentiment is also shifting—Freepress Journal noted on May 15, 2025, that Indian tourists are canceling trips to Turkey after its role in the Pahalgam conflict, where 26 tourists were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists. Former diplomat Rajiv Dogra even suggested banning Turkish Airlines and canceling Çelebi’s contracts, reflecting the growing push to cut ties with Turkish firms.
The Impact on India’s Aviation Sector
Çelebi and Turkish Airlines play a big role in India’s aviation, but their involvement is now a double-edged sword. Çelebi handles 70% of ground operations at Mumbai’s airport and services over 300 airlines globally, as per its website. Turkish Airlines supports IndiGo and Air India, which together hold over 90% of India’s market, according to Livemint in May 2025. If India cuts ties with them, it could disrupt operations—flights might be delayed, and costs could rise as airlines find new partners. But keeping them risks security, especially with Çelebi’s access to sensitive areas. The government faces a tough choice: balance economic needs with national safety, as public anger grows over Turkey’s actions against India.
Operational Risks of Cutting Ties
If India ends its contracts with Çelebi and Turkish Airlines, the aviation sector could face chaos. Çelebi manages 58,000 flights yearly across nine airports, as per India Today on May 14, 2025. Replacing them would take time—new ground handlers would need training and security clearances. BusinessToday noted in 2018 that ground handling costs airlines just 1.5-2% of their budget, but the transition could still be costly. Turkish Airlines’ exit would hit IndiGo hard, as it relies on leased planes and codeshare flights to Istanbul. Livemint reported on May 14, 2025, that IndiGo is monitoring bookings to Turkey, which may drop due to boycotts. While the impact might be short-term, the disruption could lead to higher fares and delays for passengers, a price some say is worth paying for security.
The Bigger Picture for National Security
The bigger worry is national security. Çelebi’s access to airside zones and cargo at airports like Delhi and Mumbai puts it in a sensitive position, as highlighted by India Today in May 2025. Turkey’s support for Pakistan, including supplying drones during Operation Sindoor, has raised fears of espionage or worse. Posts on X suggest Çelebi could be used to spy or smuggle, though there’s no hard proof. Turkish Airlines’ deep ties with IndiGo and Air India also mean foreign influence over key players. Former diplomat Rajiv Dogra, quoted by India Today on May 14, 2025, urged canceling Çelebi’s contracts and banning Turkish Airlines to protect India. With India-Pakistan tensions high, the government may need to act fast to ensure airports—critical infrastructure—aren’t a weak spot in national defense.
What’s Next: India’s Response and Global Ties
India now faces a tough decision. The government could suspend Çelebi and Turkish Airlines, as demanded by Shiv Sena and others, but that risks economic fallout in aviation. Another option is stricter oversight—more audits and limits on Çelebi’s access to sensitive areas. Globally, India’s stance on Turkey could shift. Cox & Kings and Ixigo have already suspended bookings to Turkey, as per Livemint on May 14, 2025, and more companies might follow. This could strain India-Turkey ties further, especially if India raises tariffs or bans Turkish exports, as suggested by former diplomat Rajiv Dogra. For now, the public’s anger, seen in X posts and protests, shows no sign of fading, pushing India to rethink its relationship with Turkish firms.
Possible Government Actions
The Indian government might take several steps, as tensions with Turkey grow. One option is to cancel Çelebi’s contracts, as demanded by Shiv Sena on May 14, 2025, per BusinessToday. This would mean finding new ground handlers fast, possibly Indian firms like Bird Group. Another step could be banning Turkish Airlines from operating in India, as suggested by Rajiv Dogra in India Today. The government might also increase security checks on Çelebi’s operations, ensuring no sensitive data is at risk. Raising tariffs on Turkish goods, as Dogra proposed, could hit Turkey economically, signaling India’s displeasure. With public sentiment strong—hundreds are canceling trips to Turkey, per Freepress Journal on May 15, 2025—the government will likely act soon to address these security concerns while balancing aviation needs.
The Global Ripple Effect
India’s response could ripple globally. If it cuts ties with Çelebi and Turkish Airlines, other countries might rethink their partnerships with Turkish firms, especially in aviation. Turkey’s aviation sector, already tied to India, Hungary, and Tanzania, as noted by PRNewswire in November 2024, could face setbacks. India-Turkey relations, already strained, might worsen—Livemint reported on May 14, 2025, that travel agencies like Cox & Kings have stopped bookings to Turkey. This echoes the “Boycott Maldives” trend, showing how public sentiment can shift international ties. If India imposes tariffs or bans, as suggested by Rajiv Dogra, it could spark trade disputes. Meanwhile, India might deepen ties with other aviation partners, like the U.S. or EU, to fill the gap, reshaping global aviation dynamics in the long run.
