Adani Airports on Thursday unveiled plans to invest more than ₹20,000 crore in developing integrated airport cities across six airports, formalising a strategy that aims to transform airports into economic hubs anchored by hotels, offices, retail, entertainment and convention infrastructure.

The announcement comes nearly a year after the businessline first reported that the Adani Group had begun city-side development across its airport network, covering more than 655 acres of land around airports. The latest plan will see approximately 22 million sq ft of mixed-use development come up across airports in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur and Guwahati. The projects will be undertaken by Adani Airport City Ltd (AACL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL).

The development spans a land bank of more than 655 acres, including nearly 440 acres in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai alone. Around 70% of the planned investment will be concentrated in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, reflecting the strategic importance of the two airports to the group’s aviation and real estate ambitions. “Around the world, the most successful airport districts have become centres of commerce, tourism and urban growth. As India’s aviation market expands, airports have an opportunity to create value far beyond aviation,” stated Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd in an official release.

The airport city developments are inspired by global airport-led urban ecosystems such as Singapore Changi Airport, Dubai International Airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Incheon International Airport, where non-aeronautical infrastructure generates significant economic activity alongside airport operations, the company added. Unlike traditional real estate projects, the developments are being planned as integrated, walkable districts connected to airports, metro networks and urban transport systems. The company said the projects would combine hospitality, commercial offices, retail, food and beverage outlets, entertainment zones and convention facilities within a single ecosystem.

The formal launch also marks the next phase of a strategy that Adani executives had previously outlined to investors. Last year, the group had disclosed plans to develop 655 acres around eight airports in phases, beginning with hospitality, retail and entertainment-led infrastructure. As part of the airport city initiative, Adani Airports has already signed hotel management agreements with IHG Hotels & Resorts for five luxury and premium hotels, including the India debut of the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants brand. The company said it is also in discussions with domestic and international partners across hospitality, retail, food and beverage, and entertainment segments.

The move is aimed at diversifying airport revenues beyond passenger and cargo operations, a model increasingly adopted by global airport operators to generate stable long-term cash flows. Adani Airports, India’s largest private airport operator, manages airports in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Guwahati, Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram. The airport city programme is expected to create a network of commercial districts around key aviation hubs while boosting tourism, employment and urban development in surrounding regions.

Published on June 25, 2026