Adani Enterprises Ltd. has categorically denied media reports suggesting that it is planning to enter the airline business, stating that the company is not evaluating any proposal to launch an airline.
In an official statement issued on Friday, an Adani Enterprises spokesperson dismissed the reports as “entirely baseless and factually incorrect.”
“We would like to categorically deny the recent media reports and market speculation suggesting that Adani Enterprises is planning to launch an airline. These reports are entirely baseless and factually incorrect. Adani Enterprises is not evaluating any proposal to enter the airline business,” the spokesperson said.
The clarification follows reports that the Adani Group had approached the government seeking amendments to a privatisation-era regulation that restricts operators of Delhi and Mumbai airports from holding more than a 10% stake in a scheduled airline. According to the reports, any relaxation of the rule would remove a significant regulatory hurdle should the group decide to enter the aviation sector, although no final decision had been made.
Separately, Reuters also reported that the Adani Group was considering launching a new airline, fuelling speculation across the aviation industry.
The reports prompted concerns from existing airlines over potential conflicts of interest. IndiGo Managing Director Rahul Bhatia, while speaking during the airline’s first-quarter earnings call, said allowing airport operators to own airlines could create a “massive conflict of interest.”
“We are reading the news as you are. All I can say is that if the news has any merit, one, it has no global precedent… and typically there will be a massive conflict of interest,” Bhatia said.
Despite ruling out airline ambitions, the Adani Group continues to strengthen its aviation infrastructure business. Recently, Adani Airports announced plans to invest more than ₹20,000 crore in the first phase of developing integrated airport cities across six locations—Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur and Guwahati.
India remains one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, supported by rising passenger traffic and expanding air connectivity. However, the sector continues to be dominated by two major carriers. IndiGo holds approximately 65.4% of the domestic market, while Air India accounts for about 25%, leaving relatively limited market share for other airlines.
The Adani Group is currently India’s largest private airport operator, managing eight airports, including Mumbai International Airport, while also developing the Navi Mumbai International Airport. Although the group has steadily expanded its presence across the aviation value chain, it has now firmly ruled out any plans to venture into airline operations.
This is not the first time the group has dismissed such speculation. In December last year, Jeet Adani, Director of Adani Airports and son of Gautam Adani, had also stated that the group had no interest in entering the airline business.
