Çelebi Aviation expands operations in Africa with Turkish Airlines partnership

In a significant move for the aviation industry, Türkiye's first private ground handling company, Çelebi Aviation, has established a partnership with Turkish Airlines, marking an important expansion into the African continent. Effective December 1, 2024, Çelebi Aviation will provide ground handling and passenger services for nine weekly Turkish Airlines flights at Julius Nyerere International Airport located in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. This collaboration aligns with Çelebi Aviation's strategic goal to enhance its operational capabilities and efficiency in the region, as the company has over 65 years of experience in ground handling across three continents. This partnership represents Çelebi Aviation's largest operation in Africa and is a notable step in the company's growth strategy following its entry into the Tanzanian market in 2021. As part of its operational framework, Çelebi Aviation aims to leverage its commitment to service quality and operational excellence to improve service delivery for Turkish Airlines in the region. According to the CEO of Çelebi Aviation Group, Dave Dorner, this partnership not only reinforces the company's operational presence in Tanzania but also aims to bolster its overall efficiency and quality of service. Moreover, this operation will mark Çelebi Aviation’s first scheduled wide-body flight in Africa, illustrating the company’s ambition of becoming a leading ground handling provider on the continent. The initiative is reinforced by the company’s commitment to sustainability, wherein it prioritizes reducing its carbon footprint through the implementation of technological advancements, including the use of digital tools, electric ground equipment, and energy-efficient technologies in its operations. Çelebi Aviation currently offers a variety of services including passenger handling, ramp services, load control, flight operations, and aircraft cleaning. The company employs over 15,000 people and serves more than 300 airline clients in several countries across the globe, thus establishing a robust groundwork for its future operations and expansion goals within the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.