Adani Airport Holdings CEO Arun Bansal has ruled out the group’s entry into India’s airline business, saying that operating an airline would mean competing with companies that are already customers of its airports. Speaking at the Aviation India and South Asia 2026 conference in New Delhi on November 3, Bansal said competing with customers was not a sensible business strategy. Instead, Adani Airports intends to concentrate on expanding its airport network, increasing passenger-handling capacity and participating in upcoming airport privatisation opportunities.
The statement comes after months of speculation about a possible Adani Group airline. Earlier reports suggested that the conglomerate had explored the possibility of entering commercial aviation and sought changes to contractual restrictions concerning airport-airline cross-ownership. Adani Enterprises subsequently denied that it was evaluating an airline launch. Bansal’s latest comments reinforce the airport operator’s position that its primary opportunity lies in aviation infrastructure rather than operating passenger flights.
Adani Airports Rules Out Entering the Airline Business
Bansal made the comments while responding to questions about whether the Adani Group planned to establish an airline.
He said, “Never a good strategy to compete with your customers.”
The statement reflects the commercial relationship between airport operators and airlines. Airlines depend on airports for landing facilities, parking, passenger terminals, baggage handling and other essential services. Airport operators, in turn, generate revenue from airlines through aeronautical charges and from passengers and commercial activities.
If an airport operator also owns an airline, it could create potential conflicts of interest involving airport charges, terminal access, aircraft parking and other operational decisions.
Adani Airports appears to be avoiding that possibility by maintaining its focus on airport infrastructure.
Bansal also clarified that Adani Airport Holdings and the wider Adani Group should be viewed separately when discussing the airline business. His remarks indicate that the airport subsidiary’s strategy is centred on developing its existing operations and expanding its infrastructure portfolio.
Adani Airports Handles 100 Million Passengers Annually
Adani Airport Holdings currently operates eight airports across India, including major aviation facilities in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
Its airport portfolio includes:
| Airport | Location |
|---|---|
| Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport | Mumbai |
| Navi Mumbai International Airport | Navi Mumbai |
| Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport | Ahmedabad |
| Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport | Lucknow |
| Jaipur International Airport | Jaipur |
| Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport | Guwahati |
| Thiruvananthapuram International Airport | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Mangaluru International Airport | Mangaluru |
The company currently handles approximately 100 million passengers annually across its airport network.
Bansal expects this figure to increase to approximately 300 million passengers over the next decade, reflecting the expected expansion of India’s aviation market.
The target represents a threefold increase in passenger traffic. Achieving it will require additional terminal capacity, improved airport infrastructure, expanded airside facilities and investments in passenger services.
For Adani Airports, passenger growth also creates opportunities to increase revenue from retail, food and beverage outlets, parking, advertising, lounges and other airport-related services.
Adani Airports Plans to Participate in Upcoming Privatisation
Bansal said the company would participate in the government’s upcoming airport privatisation process.
India has been expanding private participation in airport infrastructure as passenger traffic increases and existing facilities require modernisation.
The government has periodically invited private operators to manage airports under public-private partnership arrangements. Such transactions can provide private companies with opportunities to expand their airport portfolios through long-term operating and development agreements.
Adani Airports is already a major participant in India’s airport sector. Its existing network provides experience in terminal management, infrastructure development, commercial operations and passenger services.
The company could therefore use its existing operational capabilities to compete for additional airport concessions.
However, participation in a privatisation process does not guarantee that the company will win any particular airport. The final outcome will depend on the bidding process, eligibility requirements and government decisions.
Mumbai Airport Capacity Expansion Remains a Priority
Mumbai remains one of Adani Airports’ most important operating assets.
Bansal said work was underway to increase airside capacity at Mumbai airport. Airside infrastructure includes runways, taxiways, aircraft parking positions and related facilities that determine how efficiently an airport can handle aircraft movements.
Improving airside capacity is particularly important at busy airports where runway availability and aircraft movement restrictions can limit operational growth.
The company is also working on the renovation of Mumbai airport’s Terminal 1, with completion expected in early 2030.
Terminal redevelopment can improve passenger handling, security processing, baggage systems and commercial facilities. It can also help airports accommodate larger passenger volumes without relying entirely on new airport construction.
For Mumbai, where airport capacity is constrained by the city’s geography and dense urban development, improving existing infrastructure is an important part of its long-term expansion strategy.
Why Adani Prefers Airports Over Airlines
The economics of operating an airport are different from those of running an airline.
Airports typically generate revenue through a combination of regulated aeronautical charges and commercial activities. Airlines, meanwhile, face substantial operating expenses involving aircraft leases, fuel, maintenance, crew salaries, airport charges and distribution.
The airline business is also exposed to volatile fuel prices, foreign-exchange movements, aircraft delivery delays and intense competition.
For an airport operator, launching an airline could introduce additional commercial and regulatory complications.
The potential conflict is especially important because airlines using the group’s airports are its customers. An airline owned by the same group could raise questions about whether competing carriers receive equal access to airport infrastructure and services.
By remaining an airport operator, Adani can pursue growth through passenger traffic, infrastructure development and commercial revenues without directly competing with the airlines using its facilities.
Earlier Airline Speculation and Cross-Ownership Concerns
The latest comments follow several developments that brought Adani’s potential airline plans into focus.
In July 2026, Adani Enterprises issued a clarification stating that it was not evaluating any proposal to enter the airline business.
However, reports also emerged that Adani Airport Holdings had sought clarification or relaxation of contractual provisions concerning cross-ownership between airport operators and scheduled airlines.
The issue attracted attention because certain airport concession agreements, including those relating to Mumbai and Delhi, contain restrictions involving airline ownership and airport operators.
The government subsequently said it would examine the advantages and disadvantages of allowing airport operators to own or operate airlines. Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu said the government would consider the implications for market balance and competition.
IndiGo executives had also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, particularly regarding airport access and competition between airlines.
Bansal’s November 3 statement adds another indication that Adani Airports intends to concentrate on its infrastructure business rather than launch a carrier.
The Bigger Picture
Adani’s decision highlights the different opportunities available across India’s aviation industry. While airlines compete on ticket prices, routes, fleet utilisation and operating efficiency, airport operators can benefit from rising passenger traffic without directly assuming the risks of running an airline.
India’s growing aviation market offers significant opportunities for airport infrastructure companies. More passengers create demand for larger terminals, additional aircraft parking, improved runways, retail facilities and airport-linked commercial developments. Adani Airports is attempting to capture this growth by expanding its existing network and pursuing additional airport concessions.
Looking Ahead
Adani Airports’ next phase of growth will depend on its ability to increase passenger-handling capacity and improve infrastructure across its existing network. The company’s target of handling 300 million passengers annually over the next decade will require sustained investment, particularly at Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Its participation in future airport privatisation opportunities could also expand its presence in India’s aviation infrastructure sector.
For now, the group’s position on the airline business appears clear: it wants to remain an airport operator rather than become a direct competitor to the airlines using its facilities. As India’s aviation market expands, Adani will focus on capturing the growth through airport operations, passenger services and infrastructure development.
Get the day’s top stories in your inbox
One concise email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
