Govt to conduct international roadshows for privatisation of 11 airports

The government plans to conduct promotional roadshows in international financial hubs, including Dubai and Singapore, to attract global investors for an upcoming airport privatisation round. These sessions aim to explain the bidding modality and gather feedback from prospective participants.The Airports Authority of India (AAI) intends to begin the bidding process for 11 airports by December, expecting to finalise agreements by the end of fiscal year 2027. AAI will bundle airports into five groups, pairing smaller facilities with larger ones under 50-year lease contracts.To mitigate concerns regarding market concentration and potential monopolies in the aviation sector, the government plans to cap the number of airports a single entity can bid for. Aside from international sovereign wealth funds, the government anticipates participation from current operators and Indian corporate houses.