India’s Adani Enterprises is aiming to expand its airport operations by bidding for 11 additional airports that the government intends to lease to private operators, as part of an US$11 billion infrastructure expansion strategy. Currently managing seven airports across India, the conglomerate led by Gautam Adani has seen rapid growth, with its airport subsidiary becoming the largest operator in the country in terms of the number of airports. Despite this, other major players like the GMR Group handle more passengers overall.
The Indian government is privatizing airports by leasing government-owned facilities for lengthy durations and encouraging new construction, targeting up to 400 airports by 2047, up from 163 today. In a recent interview, Jeet Adani, director at Adani Airports, stated, "We will be bidding for all (11) of them," signifying the company's keen interest in expanding its footprint.
Adani Airports is also set to launch the first airport it has built from scratch near Mumbai later this month. The company, along with GMR, is seeking to capitalize on a booming air travel market in India. In 2024, approximately 174 million passengers traveled via Indian airports, displaying a 10% increase over the previous year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Indian airlines have been ordering over 1,300 aircraft since 2023, reflecting vibrant aviation growth.
Jeet Adani emphasized that the company has no plans to venture into the airline business, citing thin margins and a focus on ground asset development. "Our core competency remains in creating and operating long-term infrastructure assets efficiently," he explained. The expansion in airport management underscores the broader trends of infrastructure privatization and increased air traffic in India, driven by rising income levels and economic growth.
