Mumbai Airport Appoints Indo-Thai Airport Services As Interim Ground Handler After Celebi Aviation Licence Revoked

By Yashashvi Tak
Sat, 17 May 2025 12:05 AM (IST)

Source:JND

Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has announced on Friday that Indo Thai Airport Services will be the interim ground handling provider for the next three months at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). The step was taken after the Adani Airport Holdings Ltd’s termination of concession agreements with Turkish firm Celebi Aviation at Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports, after the Central Government revoked Celebi's security clearance on national security grounds.

In a statement, Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) said, “Indo Thai Airport Services has been appointed as the interim ground handling provider at the airport for the next three months with immediate effect.”

Indo Thai Airport Services, a certified ground handler with operations at nine airports across India, will work closely with MIAL to uphold existing Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery.

MIAL will supervise the transfer of all Celebi NAS employees at CSMIA to Indo Thai Airport Services, retaining their existing employment terms to safeguard jobs and ensure seamless operations. Additionally, Indo Thai Airport Services will lease all ground handling equipment from Celebi NAS to maintain established service standards.

MIAL announced that it will initiate a Request for Proposal (RFP) process within the next three days to select a long-term ground handling partner, with the final selection expected to be completed within three months.

A spokesperson for MIAL assured airline partners that ground handling operations at CSMIA will remain unaffected, highlighting the commitment to uninterrupted service and maintaining the highest standards for both passengers and airlines.

"MIAL is committed to protecting employee welfare, maintaining operational excellence, and serving the national interest," the spokesperson said.

MIAL added, “CSMIA will 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.”

CSMIA, one of India’s busiest airports, remains focused on ensuring seamless operations and passenger satisfaction throughout this transition. Over the next five years, the Mumbai airport plans to invest Rs 10,000 crore in infrastructure development and aims to generate Rs 7,600 crore in revenue from an anticipated 229 million passengers.

Mumbai Airport remains committed to consistently enhancing passenger convenience, boosting operational efficiency, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of one of India’s premier aviation hubs.

Key initiatives include the Domestic-to-Domestic Transfer Facility at Terminal 2, the new Taxiway Z to enhance on-time performance and promote sustainable airport operations, the introduction of eGates to reduce entry congestion, free inter-terminal coach transfers, and FASTag-enabled parking, along with other passenger-focused enhancements.

(With ANI Inputs)