The Centre is preparing a fresh round of airport privatisation in which 11 airports run by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will be offered to private operators in five bundled packages under 50-year concession agreements, according to reports by The Economic Times cited by Forbes India and corroborated by Indian Aviation News and Channel iAM. Bidding is expected to begin by December 2026, with the transactions targeted for completion by the end of the 2026-27 financial year.

Source: Forbes India — This week in aviation (Oct 23, 2026, citing The Economic Times)

Investor roadshows are planned in international financial centres, including Dubai and Singapore, to attract global bidders, the reports said. The bundled model pairs larger, busier airports with smaller regional facilities so that revenue from the stronger airports can support the operation and development of the smaller ones.

The five bundles

The proposed packages are Amritsar with Kangra-Gaggal; Varanasi with Gaya and Kushinagar; Bhubaneswar with Hubballi; Raipur with Aurangabad; and Tiruchirappalli with Tirupati, according to Indian Aviation News and PropNewsTime, which cited an official document. The Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) has given in-principle approval to the civil aviation ministry's proposal, PropNewsTime reported.

11airports to be leased
5bundled packages
50 yearslease term for each bundle
₹8,622 croreexpected private investment (yaani ~₹86.22 billion)

A cap to limit concentration

A key feature of the proposed framework is a cap on the number of packages a single bidder can win. The civil aviation ministry has proposed the restriction after the Finance Ministry raised concerns over market concentration and the financial risks of excessive borrowing by airport operators, Indian Aviation News reported; the precise limit has not yet been finalised. Adani Airport Holdings and GMR Airports are currently India's largest private airport operators. The ministry has also proposed a one-year joint management period after award, during which existing AAI employees would work alongside the new concessionaire, PropNewsTime reported.

Source: Indian Aviation News — AAI to invite global bids for 11 airports (Oct 2026)

What is solid

  • 11 AAI airports are proposed to be leased in five bundles on 50-year terms, with bidding expected by December 2026
  • The five bundle pairings and the ₹8,622 crore expected investment figure are reported by multiple outlets citing the official proposal
  • PPPAC has given in-principle approval, according to PropNewsTime's report on the official document

What is only claimed

  • The exact cap on bundles per bidder is proposed but not yet finalised, so how far it will limit large operators remains undecided
  • Final Cabinet approval and the formal bid documents are still awaited, so timelines could shift