India should have three large national airlines to cater to its rapidly expanding aviation market and strengthen its global air connectivity, Adani Airports CEO Arun Bansal has said, calling for the development of a globally competitive domestic airline ecosystem before opening the sector to greater international competition.
Speaking at Delhi Aviation India 2026, Bansal said India needed a stronger airline industry capable of meeting rising passenger demand and competing with international carriers.
“I think India deserves to have three national carriers,” he said, noting that IndiGo and Air India could be considered two of them, while emphasising the need for a third airline of comparable scale.
Bansal also advocated a cautious approach towards a broader open-skies policy, arguing that Indian airlines should first achieve global economies of scale and service standards. India should “protect Indian airlines first” and give domestic carriers sufficient opportunity to strengthen their market position before exposing them to greater international competition, he said.
India’s passenger traffic is projected to grow nearly fourfold, from approximately 300 million currently to 1.1-1.2 billion by 2040-45, according to Bansal. Meeting this demand would require substantial expansion in aircraft fleets, airport infrastructure and regulatory reforms.
He pointed out that Indian passengers often rely on international transit hubs, particularly in West Asia, to connect to destinations in Europe and the United States. Strengthening direct international connectivity would require airlines to expand their fleets, airports to enhance capacity and regulators to introduce appropriate policy changes.
On infrastructure development, 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.
The company currently handles around 100 million passengers annually across its airport portfolio and aims to increase this figure to 300 million over the next decade. Adani Airports will also participate in the government’s upcoming airport privatisation programme involving 11 airports, he said.
Among its major expansion projects, the company is accelerating Phase 2 of Navi Mumbai International Airport, which is planned to reach an annual capacity of 50 million passengers by 2030.
At the existing Mumbai airport, the redevelopment of Terminal 1 is expected to increase the combined passenger-handling capacity of the two terminals from 55 million to nearly 65 million annually.
While reaffirming the company’s commitment to India’s aviation growth, Bansal said Adani Airports would remain focused on domestic opportunities, with international expansion to be considered only when particularly attractive opportunities emerge.