Baku, Azerbaijan, March 24. The European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has granted an 18 million
euro loan to Türkiye’s Çelebi Hava Servisi, marking the first such
loan to support a private ground handling provider within the
EBRD’s countries of operation, Trend reports.
This funding will be used to purchase electrical ground support
equipment across ten airports in Türkiye, including major hubs in
Ankara, Antalya, İstanbul, and İzmir, as well as electrify existing
conventional equipment.
The investment aims to significantly reduce the aviation
sector’s carbon footprint, with ground operations seen as a crucial
part of achieving greener airport operations. The transition to
electric ground support equipment will also help Çelebi enhance
operational efficiency and reduce costs related to fuel and
maintenance.
In addition to the environmental benefits, the project will also
focus on strengthening Çelebi’s corporate climate governance and
aligning it with Turkish sustainability reporting standards. As
part of the initiative, Çelebi will work with the EBRD to improve
gender equality in its corporate climate policies, particularly in
leadership and management roles.
Founded in 1958, Çelebi Hava Servisi is a global leader in
aviation services, operating in 70 stations worldwide, including in
Germany, India, and Türkiye. The company provides a range of
services, including ground handling and cargo management, employing
over 15,000 people and serving more than 400 airline customers.
The EBRD has been a key investor in Türkiye, committing more
than 22 billion euros across 478 projects since 2009.