With a team of approximately 9,000 dedicated employees, Çelebi Aviation operates at more than 60 stations in five countries and on three continents, positioning Çelebi Aviation as a global partner in ground handling. In line with its growth strategy focused on emerging markets, Çelebi Aviation continues to strengthen its international presence and remains committed to delivering high-standard services to its partners.
Founded in 1958, Çelebi Aviation is a global aviation service provider offering comprehensive solutions in ground handling, cargo handling, and warehouse management. With over 65 years of experience, Çelebi Aviation operates at more than 60 airports worldwide and is committed to delivering high-quality services and innovative solutions.
We offer a comprehensive portfolio that includes ramp and cargo handling, passenger services, general aviation operations, warehouse management, and premium Platinum services. All our operations are conducted in full compliance with international aviation safety and quality standards. We continuously invest in advanced technologies and implement extensive training programs to support the development of our team.
Operating in Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Kenya and Türkiye, we proudly serve approximately 400 airline customers. We strive to exceed expectations while advancing the efficiency and safety standards of the aviation industry.
1958
Çelebi Ground Handling Türkiye was founded
Çelebi Ground Handling was founded with one ladder and five workers, marking the start of Türkiye’s first private ground handling company and laying the foundation for its future growth.
1996
Çelebi Ground Handling Türkiye was listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange
Çelebi Ground Handling became a publicly traded company, strengthening its financial position and expanding its corporate reach in the aviation industry.
2006
Çelebi Aviation Hungary was established in Budapest
Çelebi Aviation entered the European market with the establishment of Çelebi Ground Handling Hungary Ltd. in Budapest, marking its first international expansion.
2008
Celebi Aviation India was established
Çelebi Aviation made its first entry into India by establishing Celebi Aviation India in Mumbai, expanding its operations into one of the world’s largest aviation markets.
2011
Celebi Aviation Germany was established
Çelebi Aviation expanded into Germany with the formation of Çelebi Cargo GmbH in Frankfurt, reinforcing its position in the cargo industry in Europe.
2011
Çelebi Aviation Austria was established
Çelebi Aviation entered the Austrian market by establishing Çelebi Ground Services Austria GmbH to provide ground handling services at Vienna International Airport. This operation in Vienna successfully continued until 2019.
2013
Partnership with ACTERA was established
A strategic partnership with ACTERA was formed, providing Çelebi Aviation with stronger financial backing and expansion opportunities.
2015
Lounges at Budapest Airport were opened
Çelebi Aviation launched its first Platinum Lounges at Liszt Ferenc International Airport in Budapest, offering premium services and comfort to passengers.
2021
Celebi Aviation Tanzania was established
Çelebi Aviation entered the African market by establishing Çelebi Aviation Services in Dar Es Salaam, expanding its global reach.
2022
A CIP lounge at Diyarbakır Airport was opened
Çelebi Aviation introduced its exclusive Platinum Lounge at Diyarbakır Airport, enhancing the passenger experience with premium comfort and services.
2024
Çelebi Aviation Indonesia was established
Çelebi Aviation expanded to Southeast Asia with the acquisition of Prathita Titiannusantara (PTN), marking its entry into the Indonesian aviation market.
2024
Lounge at Çukurova Airport was opened
Çelebi Aviation launched its Platinum Lounge at Çukurova Airport, offering a high-end travel experience for passengers seeking comfort and convenience.
2025
Celebi Aviation Kenya was established
Çelebi Aviation launched its first operation in Kenya through the acquisition of Transglobal Cargo Centre Ltd. (AFS), marking a key milestone in its long-term growth strategy across the African continent.
2025
Operations in India were terminated
Our operations in India were terminated.
2025
New cargo terminal was opened in Kualanamu, Indonesia
Çelebi Aviation expanded its cargo capacity in the region by opening a new cargo terminal at Kualanamu Airport in Indonesia.
2026
Ground handling operations in Bali and Jakarta were launched
Çelebi Aviation expanded its service network in Indonesia by launching ground handling operations in Bali and Jakarta.
2026
Operations in Tanzania were terminated.
Our operations in Tanzania were terminated.
Dave William Dorner
Group CEO
Dave Dorner officially took on the role of Chief Executive Officer at Çelebi Aviation Holding in the beginning of 2017. He is also working as an Operating Partner of Actera Group. Prior to joining Actera, Mr. Dorner was the Regional Head of Live Nation Entertainment and the CEO of Biletix, the largest event ticketing company in Türkiye, which he co-founded in 2000 and later sold to Live Nation Entertainment in 2006. Prior to leading event ticketing company in Türkiye, Mr. Dorner had a 10 year tenure with Monitor Group where he also started his career. Mr. Dorner received a BA in Finance and Economics from the University of British Columbia.
Atilla Korkmazoğlu
President (EMEA)
Atilla Korkmazoğlu is an aviation executive with a robust background in ground handling, cargo and business development. Graduated in Civil Aviation & Transportation Management in Anadolu University and holding an MBA from Istanbul University, along with completing the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Since joining Çelebi in 1993, he has held various operational and executive roles, including Managing Director of Çelebi Hungary & Türkiye and President of Ground Handling & Business Development for the group. Currently, he serves as President of Ground Handling & Cargo (EMEA) and also leads the “Continuous Improvement” function for the group, alongside his responsibilities as an executive director for the group's companies.
Murali Ramachandran
President (S-E Asia)
A service industry professional with over 30 years of experience mix in the Hospitality and Aviation sectors. Murali started his career as a Management Trainee with the ITC/ Starwood Hotels and worked with them for 13 years in various Managerial positions. He moved from hotels to the aviation industry starting with Jet Airways where he initially managed the airlines busiest hub in Mumbai and was eventually in-charge of the airline’s global Airport Services operations. In 2007, he joined Kingfisher Airlines as Senior Vice President for Ground Services and Cargo. He was associated with the airline till 2013. Murali moved thereafter to the Airports sector and was heading the operations of Mumbai International Airport in the capacity of Executive Vice President, Operations. For more than 10 years, Murali has been heading the business for Çelebi Aviation, as the President of Southeast Asia.
Zeynep Çetiner
Excom Member
Mrs. Çetiner has completed her license program at Ankara University, faculty of law. Prior her Çelebi career, Zeynep had worked as legal senior counsellor at Vakıfbank between the years 1989 and 2006. Since 2006 she has been working at Çelebi Aviation Holding as legal senior counsellor.
Evrim Ünal Gökce
Executive Vice President Human Resources
Evrim Unal Gökce is an experienced Human Resources executive with a strong background in managing HR functions across various industries, including logistics, automotive, retail, and banking. She has worked in global and cross-cultural environments, focusing on HR system development, expatriate management, and change management. She has held senior HR leadership roles across multiple organizations. She holds a master’s degree in Management and Labour Psychology and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Marmara University.
Cem Şensöz
Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing
Cem Şensöz is a senior executive with over 25 years of experience in the aviation industry. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Istanbul Kültür University and his experience includes operations management, change management, strategic planning, customer satisfaction, sales and marketing, and strategic partnerships. He began his career at Çelebi Ground Handling in Türkiye(1992-2008), where he held various positions, including Operations Director. In 2008, he joined ÇelebiNAS Airport Services Pvt. Ltd as the Chief Operating Officer at Mumbai International Airport. He later served as the Chief Executive Officer at ÇelebiNAS Airport Services Pvt. Ltd. and as the Managing Director of Çelebi Ground Handling, overseeing ground handling services in multiple airports across . Currently, Mr. Cem Şensöz is serving as the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Çelebi Aviation, starting from June 1, 2023. His strategic vision has played a vital role in expanding business and delivering outstanding service at Çelebi Aviation.
Ali Aköz
Executive Vice President Financial Affairs
After graduating from Galatasaray High School and then Boğaziçi University, Department of Business Administration, Aköz completed the Strategic Finance Executive Program at Chicago Boots. During his career, he gained extensive experience working in prominent international companies, culminating in various senior positions such as Finance Director, CFO, and CEO. Most recently, Aköz served as Deputy CEO of the Strategy and Transformation Office at leading fashion retail company, here he managed key responsibilities supporting the company’s strategic goals. On 8 January 2024, Ali Aköz joined Çelebi Aviation Holding as Executive Vice President of Financial Affairs (CFO), where he will contribute to further strengthening Çelebi Aviation's leading position in the industry while playing an important role in the company's strategic financial and growth initiatives.
At Çelebi Aviation, our strategic focus is on expanding into high-potential markets to meet the growing demands of the global aviation industry. Following Türkiye, our international journey began in Hungary in 2006 and has steadily expanded to Germany (2011), Indonesia (2024) and most recently, Kenya (2026). Grounded in our values of safety, innovation, and service excellence, we have set new industry standards by integrating collision avoidance systems into our fleet. This achievement has been recognized with IATA’s “Enhanced Ground Support Equipment Certification,” affirming the company’s leadership in ground handling safety standards.
We are committed to delivering world-class ground handling, cargo operations, and aviation services with a strong emphasis on reliability, efficiency, and innovation. By focusing on customer satisfaction, sustainability, and continuous improvement, we provide seamless, high-quality solutions that contribute to the safe and smooth functioning of the global aviation ecosystem.
Our vision is to be the most trusted and preferred global partner in ground handling and cargo handling services by setting industry benchmarks in quality, sustainability, and innovation. We aim to expand our global footprint by offering sustainable, tech-driven, and people-centered solutions—always guided by our core values of safety, operational excellence, and innovation.
At Çelebi Aviation, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety across all our operations. Our quality approach is rooted in standardization, continuous improvement, and a customer-centric mindset, fully aligned with Total Quality Management (TQM) principles. By focusing on innovation and operational efficiency, we aim to deliver consistent, high-quality service at every touchpoint.
For all business inquiries, partnership opportunities, or service-related requests, please contact our team directly. We are here to support your operational needs across our global network.
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