India needs three national carriers to compete globally, says Adani Airports CEO

India needs three large national carriers to cater to its rapidly expanding aviation market and improve direct international connectivity, Adani Airports CEO Arun Bansal said on Tuesday, arguing that domestic airlines should be strengthened before the country considers greater exposure to international competition.

Speaking at Delhi Aviation India 2026, Bansal said India needed to develop a stronger airline ecosystem to serve rising passenger demand and compete with global carriers.

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"I think India deserves to have three national carriers," he said, adding that IndiGo and Air India could be counted among the country's national carriers, "but we need a third of their equal size."

Bansal also called for Indian airlines to achieve global economies of scale and service standards before the country considers a broader open-skies approach. India should "protect Indian airlines first," he said, emphasising the need to give domestic carriers room to strengthen their competitive position before opening the market to greater international competition.

India's passenger traffic is projected to rise nearly fourfold, from around 300 million currently to 1.1-1.2 billion by 2040-45, Bansal said. Meeting this demand would require more aircraft, expanded airport infrastructure and regulatory changes, he added.

He noted that Indian passengers often rely on international hubs, including those in the Middle East, to connect to destinations in Europe and the US. Improving direct connectivity would require airlines to expand their fleets, airports to increase capacity and regulators to introduce the necessary changes, he said.

On infrastructure investment, Bansal said Adani Airports planned to invest $10-11 billion over the next seven years in airport infrastructure, non-aeronautical businesses and city-side development in India.

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The company's airport portfolio currently handles around 100 million passengers annually, and it aims to increase that figure to 300 million over the next decade. Adani Airports also plans to participate in the government's next airport privatisation round, which will involve 11 airports, he said.

Bansal said the company was accelerating Phase 2 of Navi Mumbai airport, which is planned to have a capacity of 50 million passengers by 2030.

At Mumbai's existing airport, the redevelopment of Terminal 1 is expected to increase the combined capacity of the two terminals from 55 million to nearly 65 million passengers.

Bansal said Adani Airports would continue to focus on growth opportunities in India, with international expansion considered only if a particularly attractive opportunity emerged.