Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) is entering the airport ground handling services segment, positioning itself to potentially replace Turkish operator Celebi Airport Services at some of India’s busiest airports.
This move marks a significant expansion of the Adani Group’s aviation ambitions, aligning with its broader infrastructure strategy and long-term goal of dominating end-to-end airport operations.The development follows the revocation of Celebi’s security clearance by Indian aviation authorities after geopolitical tensions involving Turkey. This revocation has led to Celebi’s exit from major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, leaving a key operational gap in ground services. AAHL, which currently manages eight Indian airports including Mumbai and the upcoming Navi Mumbai hub, has swiftly stepped in to fill the void.
Arun Bansal, CEO of AAHL, confirmed the group will establish a new company dedicated to ground handling. “We will participate in the tender for Mumbai airport and are exploring opportunities at our own and other airports,” Bansal said during the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting held in New Delhi.Ground handling is a critical aviation service that includes passenger check-in, baggage handling, aircraft turnaround, cargo operations, and catering logistics. With Celebi exiting the scene, Adani’s move comes at a pivotal moment as airports recalibrate their operational frameworks to ensure uninterrupted services.
The new ground handling company will be led by Anurag Srivastava, formerly with the Bird Group, bringing industry expertise to the Adani initiative. The group will now be competing with established players such as Air India SATS, Bird Group, Indothai, and government-run AI Airport Services Ltd.Under India’s civil aviation rules, airports handling over one million passengers annually must have a minimum of three ground handling agencies, while non-major airports require two. The sudden exit of Celebi has opened up competitive bids at these high-traffic locations.
Adani’s entry into this vertical is part of a broader plan to consolidate its airport services portfolio. The conglomerate is eyeing adjacent services such as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), and retail operations, alongside traditional terminal management. In a related move, Adani Group acquired MRO firm AirWorks last year.Industry sources indicate the company will invest over ₹10,000 crore in aviation and airport infrastructure during FY26. AAHL is also preparing to demerge its airport business and list it on the stock exchange within the next three to five years, suggesting a calibrated strategy to unlock shareholder value and capitalise on India’s growing air travel market.
As Celebi’s exit disrupts established airport service norms, Adani’s proactive positioning demonstrates the group’s ambition to become a comprehensive player in India’s aviation sector. While questions of competition and service quality remain, the Adani Group’s foray could bring much-needed operational depth to airport ecosystems amid India’s booming passenger demand.
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