Çelebi had an outstanding presence as both a sponsor and a participant in the 39th Air Cargo Agents Association Of India (ACAAI) annual convention, a summit that brought together the air cargo industries of India and Turkey in İstanbul. Attentions were drawn to the contributions that the Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal has been making to India's air cargo industry through the air cargo tonnages and modernization it has achieved in a short time.

The 39th ACAAI annual convention took place in İstanbul, the only city in the world situated on two continents, on 22-25 November 2012. Bringing together high-level representatives of India's and Turkey's air cargo industries, this year's convention's theme was “Air Cargo Logistics: Desire, Design, Develop, Deliver”.

A successful air cargo services provider at the New Delhi and Mumbai airports, Çelebi acted as a bridge linking the civil aviation industries of India and Turkey. Çelebi was on hand as both a sponsor and a participant as it played host to a gathering that was important to the air cargo sectors of both countries.

During the second business session conducted on the second day under the theme of “Design: Creating An Enabling Environment”, Çelebi Aviation Holding's President of Ground Services and Global Business Management Atilla Korkmazoğlu delivered a presentation entitled “Air Cargo: Sustainable Business Model” which drew attention to the contributions that the Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal has made to India's air cargo industry in a short time.

“With 13,500 employees in five countries on two continents, Çelebi has become a global brand.”

Briefly summarizing the activities of the Çelebi Group as well, Mr Korkmazoğlu said “In the more than half-century since 1958, Çelebi has continued to move forward steadily and consistently. Today Çelebi is a huge family and global brand employing more than 13,000 people at 34 service locations in five countries on two continents in business lines that include not just aviation but also transport, tourism, security, foods, and maritime. In the civil aviation industry, which is our core business activity, we are not only experienced in airport management but are also engaged in a significant volume of international operations in ground handling services as well. Çelebi is active not just in Turkey and India but also in Hungary, Austria, and Germany where it is at the service of a large number of carriers, including some of the world's biggest airlines.

“Çelebi has achieved remarkable successes at the Delhi Cargo Terminal.”

Pointing out that besides providing ground handling services at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in India, Çelebi has also been managing the Delhi International Cargo Terminal at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi since 2009, Mr Korkmazoğlu said “We launched projects aimed at fulfilling our essential development, modernization, financing, and management responsibilities for the existing cargo terminal over the next twenty-five years. We have set in motion a “Process Development & Modernization” plan for the cargo terminal and are on course to complete it in the very near future. Thanks to the successful progress which has so far been made with our renovations, we have already transformed a nearly 30-year-old facility with 70,000 m² of indoor space into a first-class cargo terminal with the addition of advanced infrastructure services, modern operational processes, and high-tech equipment.

“We took many innovative steps aimed at reinforcing our “no-problem service” approach at Delhi. These include modernizing the vehicle management system, increasing the flexibility of export-processing hours, equipping storage areas with multilayered security measures, and introducing new, environment-friendly loading, unloading, and handling equipment. Thanks to the modernization and equipment investments that we have carried out, we have already boosted the Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal's cargo handling capacity by more than 83% from 380,000 tons to 700,000 tons a year.”

“We will create a “thermal security blanket” for heat-sensitive products.”

Mr Korkmazoğlu noted that the Çelebi Cargo Terminal had rooms specially designed for the storage of hazardous materials and of medical supplies as well as a separate facility with cold rooms whose temperatures can be adjusted in three different ranges (2-8^oC, 9-15^oC, and 15-25^oC) in order to satisfy the storage requirements of perishable goods such as cut flowers, meats, and pharmaceuticals. “In addition, we are also involved in a number of process development projects which will further enhance our ability to provide even better service for heat-sensitive goods. Our aim is to create a fully-integrated cold chain that employs refrigerated lorries, containers, and dollies in order to cope with Delhi's climate, where the ambient temperature in summer can go over 50 degrees Celsius.” He also added that Çelebi's goal was to create a “thermal security blanket” capable of fully protecting critically important heat-sensitive exports such as medical supplies and pharmaceuticals during transport.

“We are focusing on advanced information technology systems and e-freight initiatives.”

Mr Korkmazoğlu said that Çelebi has the ability to effectively satisfy all of the requirements of commercial life in every aspect of business anywhere in the world and that the group continues to develop those abilities for the greater convenience and benefit of all of its customers. “We explore and implement new operational and management approaches that make use of processes designed for a truly global air cargo terminal. In line with this, we are focusing on advanced information technology systems and e-freight initiatives.”

“We registered a record-breaking rise in cargo volumes in 2010-2011.”

“Thanks to our changes in the cargo terminal management system, to our improvements in operational processes, and to our development of the customs-clearance system, we registered a rise in cargo volumes in 2010-2011 unlike anything hitherto witnessed in an environment that has been one of the most dynamic in the world in recent years” said Mr Korkmazoğlu, who added that the Çelebi Delhi Cargo Terminal handled about 380,000 tons of international cargo during 2011.

“We believe that the market may experience a strong turnaround.”

Noting that markets were still suffering from the effects of the global economic crisis however small the absolute declines in cargo volumes might seem, Çelebi Aviation Holding's President of Ground Services and Global Business Management Atilla Korkmazoğlu said “However looking at trends in the wake of previous declines of this sort, we can reasonably expect that the market will experience a strong turnaround provided that our stance remains firm.”

“Çelebi is submitting bids on cargo contracts at the Mumbai airport.”

Encouraged by the tremendous success of its operations at the Delhi Cargo Terminal in India, Çelebi is submitting bids on national and international cargo carrying contracts being put up for tender at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, where it is currently providing ground handling services.

Indian and Turkish cuisines go head-to-head at a Çelebi-hosted dinner.

Çelebi also sponsored the dinner held on the second day of the conference. The banquet, which was attended by the delegations of both countries, provided an opportunity for India's and Turkey's world-famous cuisines to engage in a delectable competition with each other. Speaking briefly in his capacity as the evening's host, Çelebi Aviation Holding's President of Ground Services and Global Business Management Atilla Korkmazoğlu said “We are both proud and happy that Çelebi has this opportunity to act as a bridge between Turkey and India. I therefore take this occasion to welcome you all and to thank you for your valued presence as our guests this evening.”

“India and Turkey resemble each other in many respects.”

“Putting all the economic data, the commercial ties, the huge volumes, and the major operations to one side for the moment, I want to briefly draw your attention to the similarities between our two countries that truly bring us together as individual representatives of Indian and Turkish culture in attendance here this evening” said Mr Korkmazoğlu, who added “With histories that go back millennia and rich cultural assets, India and Turkey are two countries that actually resemble each other in many respects. Indeed both our countries are engaged in a truly friendly competition with each other on a global scale in such areas as the generous hospitality shown by our people and the richness of our cuisines.”

“India and Turkey will shape the course of the world economy.”

Noting that these resemblances can be seen in the economic sphere as well, Mr Korkmazoğlu said “This is because both countries continue to enjoy significant and consistent growth rates despite the global crisis. Both India and Turkey number among the countries that will be shaping the future of the world economy on a variety of measures. It is here that we believe that a general collaboration between India and Turkey, especially in the areas of economics and trade, will make a big contribution to both countries.” He also added that Çelebi itself was living testimony and proof of such a contribution.

“We are honored to be a bridge between India and Turkey.”

“Because of the pleasure inspired in us by your wonderful people and their wonderful country, I want to end my remarks by saying that we as Çelebi feel that we are your willing ambassadors and that we will be honored to shepherd every sort of cooperation between our two countries and to serve as a bridge between them” said Mr Korkmazoğlu in conclusion before inviting his guests to enjoy the delectable competition between India's and Turkey's world-famous cuisines that now awaited them.