The airport cities are being designed with international planning and architecture firms
As India’s aviation sector expands beyond passenger traffic, airports are increasingly being viewed as centres for commercial and urban development. Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) has now announced a INR 200 billion investment to develop integrated airport cities across six airports, marking one of the country’s largest airport-led real estate initiatives.
In a press statement, Adani Airport says that the first phase of the programme will cover around 2.04 million sqm of mixed-use development across airports in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur and Guwahati. The projects will be undertaken by Adani Airport City Limited (AACL), a wholly owned subsidiary of AAHL.
The statement adds that the developments will span more than 265 hectares across five states, with nearly 178 hectares located in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Around 70 pc of the planned investment will be concentrated in these two airports.
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Unlike traditional airport expansion projects that primarily focus on terminals and aviation infrastructure, the airport city model integrates hotels, office spaces, retail outlets, entertainment venues, convention centres and food and beverage facilities into a single, connected district.
According to statement, the concept follows airport city models already established at international aviation hubs such as Singapore’s Changi Airport, Dubai International Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, where commercial districts have become major contributors to regional economies.
It adds that as part of the initiative, AACL has signed hotel management agreements with IHG Hotels & Resorts to develop five luxury and premium hotels across its airport network. The projects will also introduce the Kimpton brand in India for the first time. The company said it is also in discussions with domestic and international partners in hospitality, retail, entertainment and food services.
Sustainability has been incorporated into the planning process, with all proposed Airport City developments receiving LEED Gold pre-certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The projects are expected to incorporate resource-efficient design, walkable public spaces and integrated transport connectivity.
Jeet Adani, Director, AAHL.
AAHL says that the airport cities are being designed with international planning and architecture firms, while construction and project management will involve companies including Larsen & Toubro, Tata Projects, PSP Projects, CBRE, JLL and Cushman & Wakefield.
“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. We are creating a network of integrated urban destinations where airports become catalysts for investment, employment, better passenger experiences and the long-term growth of the cities they serve,” says Jeet Adani, Director, AAHL.
“These developments are being designed with leading global design and engineering partners and informed by emerging trends in hospitality, retail, workplaces and entertainment,” Mr. Adani added. “Our objective is to create vibrant districts that combine connectivity with experience, generating economic activity, employment and long-term value for the communities around them,” Adani adds.
