Turkish ground handling firm Çelebi Aviation has signed an agreement to provide ground handling services for Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul-Nairobi-Istanbul route at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The company, which has more than 65 years of experience in the aviation industry and operates across three continents, will handle passenger services, ramp operations, aircraft turnaround coordination and baggage services for the route.
The operation covers seven weekly flights and approximately 365 flights annually, with Çelebi Aviation expecting to serve between 75,000 and 80,000 passengers a year.
The deal builds on Çelebi Aviation Kenya’s existing presence at JKIA, where it already serves airlines including British Airways, Emirates SkyCargo, Network Airlines and Astral Aviation.
JKIA remains one of East Africa’s key aviation hubs, connecting Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The Kenya Airports Authority is currently modernising the airport, with plans to raise its annual passenger capacity from 7.5 million to 22 million.
Çelebi Aviation Kenya holds ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, ISAGO and GDP certifications, the latter supporting the handling of pharmaceutical logistics and other temperature-controlled cargo. The company has also introduced electric ground support equipment at JKIA as part of efforts to cut the environmental impact of its operations.
Atilla Korkmazoğlu, President of Ground Handling & Cargo, EMEA at Çelebi Aviation, said the partnership reflects the trust the company has built with international carriers.
“Our collaboration with Turkish Airlines clearly demonstrates the operational maturity of Çelebi Aviation Kenya and the trust we have built with leading international airlines,” he said, adding that the firm expects the agreement to create long-term value for both companies as JKIA’s modernisation continues.
He said Çelebi Aviation views the deal as both a boost to its Kenya operations and a milestone in its broader growth strategy across Africa.
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