Adani Airports, a subsidiary of the Adani Group, is planning to bid for more airport projects in India as part of its ambitious plans to become the country’s leading airport operator, according to the company’s CEO, Arun Bansal.
The Indian government recently privatized six airports, all of which were won by Adani Airports. Bansal has now announced that the company will participate in the bidding process for about a dozen more airports that are expected to be privatized in the coming years.
Adani Airports set to expand operations as India’s aviation market booms
India’s aviation market is experiencing tremendous growth, and the government is investing heavily in airport infrastructure to keep pace with the increasing demand. The country is planning to build more than 70 new airports and expand existing ones over the next few years. Adani Airports is aiming to capitalize on this opportunity and establish itself as a dominant player in the market.
The company’s flagship project is the Navi Mumbai airport, which is currently under construction and is set to become one of the largest airports in India. The airport is being built on a 2,866-acre site and is expected to handle 90 million passengers per year by 2036. In the first phase, which is scheduled to be completed by December 2024, the airport will have a passenger handling capacity of 20 million.
Adani Airports is also operating the Mumbai airport, which is the country’s second-busiest airport after Delhi. The company recently won a bid to build and operate the Bhogapuram airport in Andhra Pradesh, which is expected to become operational in 2024.
All of Adani’s airports have seen significant growth in passenger traffic in recent years. The company’s six airports saw a 92% increase in domestic passengers and a 133% increase in international passengers. The number of domestic flights increased by 58%, while international flights increased by 61%.
The Indian government is planning to spend about $12 billion on airports over the next two years, as airlines order hundreds of new planes to meet the growing demand for air travel. Private companies are expected to invest about $9 billion in the construction of new airports, while the state-run Airports Authority of India will fund the remainder.
Other major airport developments in India include a new facility in the capital city of New Delhi, which will have a final capacity of 70 million travellers and is being developed by Zurich Airport International AG. Additionally, greenfield airports will come up in the states of Karnataka, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.
Adani Airports’ CEO stated that the company is looking to participate in the bidding process for the construction of new greenfield airports in Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, Vijayapura, Hassan, and Shivamogga in Karnataka, Noida (Jewar) in Uttar Pradesh, Dholera and Hirasar in Gujarat, and Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh. The central government also intends to develop 100 airports by 2024 under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)- Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) infrastructure scheme.
In conclusion, Adani Airports is looking to expand its presence in the Indian aviation market by participating in the bidding process for more airports that the government plans to privatise in the coming years. With India’s aviation market growing rapidly, the government is investing heavily in airport infrastructure to keep pace with the demand. The company’s CEO stated that the company is looking to participate in the construction of new greenfield airports across India.
