13 airports get approval for privatisation through clubbing model

AAI board okays merging major airports with smaller ones to attract investors

The board of Airport Authority of India has given approval to privatise 13 airports. This is the first major asset monetisation exercise by the government as part of the National Monetisation Pipeline. The government is aiming for private investment of Rs 3,660 crore in airports by FY24.

The AAI board has approved privatisation of six major airports-- Bhubaneshwar, Varanasi, Amritsar, Trichy, Indore, Raipur—along with seven smaller ones in Jharsuguda, Gaya, Kushinagar, Kangra, Tirupati, Jabalpur and Jalgaon, according to sources. The smaller airports will be clubbed with the six major airports for scale and size, thereby making it attractive for investors.