December 20 2025: Adani Group has announced an ambitious capital expenditure plan of Rs 1 lakh crore for its airports business over the next five years, underlining its confidence in India’s long-term aviation growth story. The proposed investment will be directed towards expanding airport infrastructure and strengthening allied services, as passenger and cargo traffic continue to grow steadily across the country.
Jeet Adani, Director at Adani Airports, stated that the group remains firmly committed to the aviation sector and anticipates India’s aviation industry to expand at an annual rate of approximately 15–16% in the coming years. He highlighted India’s relatively low per-capita air travel compared to China, noting that even partial convergence would necessitate a substantial increase in airport capacity across multiple cities.
A major milestone in the group’s strategy is the commencement of commercial operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport, scheduled for December 25. The airport is being developed by Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd, in which Adani Group holds a 74% stake. Built at an initial cost of Rs 19,650 crore, the first phase of the airport is designed to handle 20 million passengers annually, with the potential to scale up to a capacity of 90 million passengers over time.
The addition of Navi Mumbai airport is expected to ease long-standing capacity constraints at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, which has faced supply limitations since 2016. The new facility is likely to provide much-needed relief while creating room for future growth as traffic volumes increase.
Currently, Adani Group operates eight airports, including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur and Mangaluru. The Mumbai airport was acquired from the GVK Group in 2021, following Adani’s success in securing six airports during the 2019 privatisation round. The group has also indicated its intent to participate actively in the next phase of airport privatisation, with 11 airports identified under the public-private partnership model.
Beyond airport operations, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. is exploring opportunities in aircraft services, including maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities, as well as flight simulation training centers. Through its airport portfolio, the group now handles around 23% of India’s passenger traffic and nearly 33% of cargo movement, while also expanding non-aeronautical businesses to diversify revenue and improve asset utilisation.
Source: Prop News Time
