Adani Pushes for More Airports
The Adani Group is moving to deepen its footprint in India’s aviation sector as Adani Airports Holdings Ltd (AAHL) prepares to bid for a fresh set of government-owned airports. As part of an expansion plan estimated at over $11 billion, the company aims to scale up capacity rapidly, positioning itself at the center of India’s fast-growing air travel market. The push comes at a time when the government is accelerating airport privatization to meet surging passenger demand.
Introducing Adani Airports Holdings Ltd
Adani Airports Holdings Ltd is the aviation arm of the Adani Group and already the country’s largest airport operator by number of assets. It currently manages seven operational airports—Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, and Mumbai—and is set to add Navi Mumbai International Airport to its portfolio. AAHL’s strategy extends beyond runways and terminals, focusing on integrated airport ecosystems that include cargo hubs, hotels, retail zones, and business parks to boost non-aeronautical revenue.
The Expansion Strategy and Capital Plan
AAHL’s growth blueprint targets tripling passenger handling capacity to nearly 200 million annually by 2030. To support this, the company recently secured significant international financing for upgrades and greenfield development. Major investments are being channelled into new terminals, extended taxiways, and additional runways at existing airports, while Navi Mumbai’s phased development is expected to become a critical growth driver. By emphasizing commercial development around airports, AAHL aims to replicate global models where non-aviation income forms a majority of revenues.
The 11 Airports Up for Government Lease
The government plans to lease out 11 Airports Authority of India (AAI)–run airports under a public-private partnership framework as part of the National Monetisation Pipeline. These airports are a mix of profitable and underperforming assets, bundled to attract private investment and operational efficiency.
Among the confirmed airports expected to be included in the upcoming round are Amritsar, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Tiruchirappalli, Indore, and Raipur. In addition, other airports that have featured in earlier shortlists—and may be bundled into the final package—include Calicut, Coimbatore, Nagpur, Patna, Madurai, Surat, Ranchi, and Jodhpur. Successful bidders are likely to receive long-term leases of up to 50 years, with selection based largely on per-passenger revenue share offered to the government.
Who Else Is Competing?
AAHL has signaled its intent to bid aggressively for all 11 airports, leveraging its financial scale and operational experience. Its main competitor is GMR Airports Ltd, which operates high-traffic hubs such as Delhi and Hyderabad and leads the sector in passenger volumes. Other potential bidders include India-focused infrastructure funds, overseas airport operators, and consortiums backed by global investors, though the contest is widely expected to consolidate around the Adani–GMR rivalry.
Reshaping India’s Aviation Landscape
The upcoming airport privatization round could redefine India’s aviation sector for decades. For Adani, winning additional airports would cement its dominance and support a nationwide network aligned with India’s travel and logistics boom. For the government, the process promises fresh investment, faster capacity creation, and improved passenger experience. As bidding unfolds, the balance between scale, competition, and financial sustainability will determine how successfully India’s airport infrastructure keeps pace with soaring demand.
(With agency inputs)
