Adani Seeks More Airports in $11 Billion Expansion
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Adani Enterprises plans to aggressively bid for 11 airports that the federal government plans to lease to the private sector, as part of the company's $11 billion expansion strategy for airport infrastructure.
Billionaire Gautam Adani-led conglomerate has embarked on an expansion spree in recent years, with its airport subsidiary becoming the largest operator in India by number of airports. India's other major aviation player, the GMR Group, is the largest operator by number of passengers handled.
The Indian government is leasing out government-owned airports for long periods to private players while incentivizing building new ones. It plans to have 350 to 400 airports by 2047 from 163 currently. Earlier this year, New Delhi outlined plans to lease out 11 airports, including at Amritsar and Varanasi.
Adani Airports manages seven airports across India and is set to operationalize the first airport it has built from scratch - a new airport near Mumbai - this month.
Adani and GMR are rushing to tap into booming air travel in India. About 174 million passengers travelled from and within the south Asian country by air in 2024, 10 percent more than a year ago, data from the International Air Transport Association showed. Indian airlines have placed orders for over 1,300 aircraft since 2023.
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The company has been investing heavily in modernizing terminals, improving passenger experience, and enhancing cargo handling capabilities across its airport portfolio.
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Industry analysts note that competition for the 11 airports is expected to be intense, with private operators betting on sustained demand growth despite high capital expenditure and regulatory complexities.
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Meanwhile, the government’s airport privatization push is aimed at improving efficiency, reducing the financial burden on the state, and accelerating the development of aviation infrastructure. With ambitious targets to expand airport capacity nationwide, private participation is seen as crucial to meeting India’s long-term connectivity and economic growth goals.