Airports

Mumbai, October 29 2026: Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL)and The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) today signed one of the largest multi-hotel operating agreements to develop eight hotels comprising over 2,000 rooms across Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Guwahati. The hotels will operate under Taj, Vivanta, Gateway and Ginger brands, creating differentiated accommodation and hospitality experiences for business, leisure and transit travellers. The partnership envisages development of hotels by Adani Airports, which will be operated by  IHCL under its multi-brand hospitality portfolio, creating high-quality hospitality offerings across key aviation gateways. Adani Airports has formed Adani Airport City Limited to develop a land bank of over 655 acres across eight airports in seven states, including nearly 440 acres in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. In the first phase, Adani Airport City will invest over ₹20,000 crore to develop approximately 22 million sq. ft. across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur and Guwahati. Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Airport Holdings Limited, said: “Across the world, leading airports are evolving into integrated destinations that serve as catalysts for commerce, tourism and urban growth Our partnership with IHCL is an important step in this journey, bringing together our hospitality-led mixed-use destinations and India’s leading hospitality company to create world-class hotels across key airport cities with its brands including the iconic Taj. Together, we aim to strengthen the hospitality ecosystem within our Airport City developments and contribute to the long-term economic growth of the regions we serve.” He added,” At Adani Airports, our ambition extends beyond operating airports to developing vibrant Airport Cities that bring together hospitality, business, retail and leisure, while enhancing the overall passenger and visitor experience.” The agreement encompasses three Taj hotels, two Vivanta hotels, one Gateway hotel and two Ginger hotels, providing hospitality offerings across multiple traveller segments. In Mumbai, the portfolio will include a Taj hotel at Terminal 2 – Mumbai airport. In Lucknow, the development will comprise a Vivanta and a Ginger hotel. Ahmedabad will include a Taj and a Vivanta in advance stages of development, while Guwahati will feature a Taj, Gateway and Ginger. Together, the eight hotels with over 2,000 rooms will offer a comprehensive mix of accommodation, dining, meetings and events, wellness and recreational facilities across these key airport locations. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & CEO, IHCL, said, “As India strengthens its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, airport-centric developments are emerging as important commercial and hospitality hubs. Our partnership with Adani Airport Holdings Limited brings together two leading Indian companies with a shared vision to build India’s travel and tourism sector.” He added, “Strengthening IHCL’s leading multi-brand presence in India’s key airports, this collaboration will include three Taj hotels, two Vivanta, One Gateway and two Ginger hotels catering to the diverse needs of business and leisure travellers across segments. With these additions IHCL will have 25 hotels across its brandscape at key airports in India.” The partnership with IHCL builds on AAHL’s strategy of developing hospitality-led, integrated mixed-use districts in proximity to the airports, and seamlessly connected with their respective cities. With this addition AAHL has now partnered with leading hotel brands for 15 hotels across its key airports in India. As passenger traffic, tourism and business travel continue to strengthen the role of airport-linked districts, the partnership is expected to expand the hospitality infrastructure supporting these key gateways. These Airport cities are expected to contribute meaningfully to the economic and cultural attributes of their host cities and enhance the experience of airport users.

Bengaluru, October 16, 2026: Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR), along with Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s Minister of International Trade has announced the signing of a sister airport agreement aimed at building further operational, technological, economic, and air service connections between Western Canada and Southern India. The memorandum of understanding between the two airports is focused on seven different areas of collaboration, including innovation to further support efficient airport operations through the use of technology. This includes work around YVR Airport’s Digital Twin as well as emerging tools and potential innovation pilot projects that could be jointly developed or trialed between the YVR and BLR Airport teams. The agreement also lays out efforts to further the transit of air cargo between Southern India and Canada and, particularly when it comes to supporting growing industries such as the tech sector in the two regions, as well as a goal of developing direct air service between Bengaluru and Vancouver. “This agreement highlights the growing importance of the Canada–India corridor and the need for stronger collaboration across the aviation ecosystem to support passengers, cargo, and trade. The partnership between YVR and Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru is a practical example of that approach in action,” said Albert van Veen, Vice President of Innovation and Chief Information Officer, Vancouver International Airport. “By working together, both airports are exploring ways to improve the passenger journey while enhancing operational efficiency and resilience, not to mention supporting continued travel and trade growth between our two countries.” Two-way trade between Canada and India was valued at more than $10.9 billion in 2025 alone, with both governments working to grow volumes considerably in the coming years. British Columbia is home to one of the largest Indian diasporas in the world, comprising nearly 500,000 people and representing close to 10 per cent of B.C.’s population. Meanwhile, Bengaluru has seen considerable population growth with a rapidly growing tech sector and increasing business-to-business connections with Western Canada and the Western United States. “This strategic partnership establishes a robust framework to advance technology integration and operational excellence by benchmarking against global best practices. By leveraging Vancouver’s standing as a premier international gateway and Bengaluru’s position as one of India’s most dynamic aviation hubs, the collaboration will focus on co-developing next-generation capabilities across digital platforms, data-driven decision-making, and process optimization. Our teams will work closely to exchange proven models in smart airport technologies, sustainable operations, and terminal performance management, setting new benchmarks in efficiency, resilience, and passenger experience. This partnership reinforces our shared commitment to building future-ready airports that deliver consistently world-class outcomes,” said Girish Nair, Chief Operating Officer of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL). Hon. Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, said: “As we move at speed to diversify Canada’s trade relationships with partners like India, our trade corridors are seeing real results. At Vancouver International Airport, air cargo volumes grew by 7.4% in 2025, and today’s agreement with Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru lays the groundwork for direct air service to one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. That means more trade, more investment and stronger people-to-people ties between our countries.” “The announcement of a sister airport agreement between YVR and India’s BLR Airport in Bengaluru marks a significant milestone in deepening economic connections between Western Canada and Southern India, establishing a new runway for shared technological and innovative collaboration as Canada actively bolsters its engagement with the world’s most populous democracy,” says Jeff Nankivell, President & CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. “This is an important first step in establishing direct air connectivity between these two growing trade and transport hubs, which combinedly handled more than 885,000 metric tonnes of cargo and welcomed 71 million passengers last year. This new agreement promises significant economic benefits for Canada and India in the years ahead.” “In an era of accelerating change, strategic connectivity is essential for business leaders,” says Victor Thomas, President and CEO of the Canada India Business Council. “The linkage between two world-class innovation hubs through YVR and BLR will strengthen Canada–India business ties and unlock new economic opportunities.” YVR Airport is coming off a record year in 2025, with 26.9 million passengers travelling through the airport and the movement of 365,000 tonnes of cargo, up 7.4 per cent from 2024. The airport is set to eclipse those numbers in 2026 with a continued increase in passenger traffic and double-digit growth in cargo volumes. This was accomplished thanks to strong operations and customer service combined with globally recognized innovation. YVR was recently voted Best Airport in North America by Skytrax for a record 15th year and named as one of the top 10 airports globally. YVR also recently announced a commitment to doubling air cargo volumes in the next five years in support of diversifying trade and getting more of Canada to global markets. BLR Airport also celebrated a strong 2025, with 44.47 million passengers including a 23.9 per cent increase in international passengers. The airport moved 532,000 tonnes of cargo last year, up 6 per cent year over year, and is India’s leading gateway for perishable exports.

SAN FRANCISCO, 15th September 2026: The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has appointed Eva Cheong as the new Chief Operating Officer for the Airport. In this role, Cheong will lead airside and landside operations, AirTrain, safety and security, the Airport Integrated Operations Center and 911 dispatch center, guest care, facilities, and the SFO Museum. Cheong will be the first female Chief Operating Officer in SFO history. “I am excited to announce Eva Cheong as SFO’s new Chief Operating Officer,” said Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet. “Eva brings a deep operational expertise in our industry, combined with a genuine commitment to our people and our mission, and I look forward to her contributions in this role.” Cheong joined SFO in 2012 following a lengthy career with Delta Airlines, where she held a variety of operational leadership roles, including Field Director for the California Region, with responsibility for seven airports across the state, including all three Bay Area airports.

JFK Millennium Partners , the company selected by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey to build and operate John F. Kennedy International Airport’s new world-class Terminal 6, and Air India, India’s leading global airline, today announced that the airline has chosen T6 for its operations beginning in 2028. The move aligns Air India with other Star Alliance member carriers in the new terminal and marks another major airline commitment to T6, which has now been selected by 16 leading  international carriers at JFK. Other airlines that have announced movements to T6 include Star Alliance members Air Canada, All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, and TAP Air Portugal — in addition to Aer Lingus, Cathay Pacific, Condor, JetBlue, Kuwait Airways, Icelandair, and Norse Atlantic. Air India’s existing codeshare or interline partnerships with many of these carriers will offer customers seamless, same-terminal connections to onward destinations across the Americas. Building on the recent opening of its signature Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco International Airport, Air India will further expand its premium ground experience in North America with the launch of its first flagship Maharaja Lounge at JFK Terminal 6. Spanning 9,100 square feet in a prime post-security location overlooking the terminal’s vibrant commercial concourse, the lounge will bring Air India’s distinctive blend of Indian hospitality, comfort, and world-class amenities to customers on both coasts of the United States. Terminal 6 will open in two phases, with the first set of gates opening in 2026 and the remaining gates and terminal completion expected by 2028. T6 is a cornerstone of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s $19 billion transformation of JFK International Airport, aimed at creating a cohesive, modern, and world-class gateway with the construction of two new terminals, two expanded and modernized terminals, a new ground transportation center, and an entirely new, simplified roadway network. Air India currently operates daily nonstop services from JFK Terminal 4 to Delhi and Mumbai using its flagship Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft, featuring brand-new or upgraded cabin interiors. Its current operations at Terminal 4 will continue normally until the airline’s planned move to T6 in 2028. “At Vantage Group, we believe transformations are built through transparent, aligned partnerships and a shared vision for the future,” said George Casey, Chair of JMP and Chair and CEO, Vantage Group. “Air India’s decision to join Terminal 6 validates the innovative approach we have taken to create and manage a new world-class international terminal at JFK, in partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Air India will be an important partner in helping Terminal 6 deliver an exceptional experience while strengthening JFK’s role as a premier international gateway.” Developed by JFK Millennium Partners, led by Vantage Group, T6 is designed to deliver a boutique, guest‑focused travel experience, featuring short walking distances from the security checkpoint to all gates, modern amenities, intuitive wayfinding and a curated shopping and dining program that reflects New York’s global character. “Welcoming Air India to the new Terminal 6 is an exciting milestone for both T6 and JFK Airport,” said Steve Thody, JMP’s Chief Executive Officer. “Air India is a globally recognized carrier undergoing a bold transformation, and T6 is built to support that vision. From shorter walks and modern design to an environment focused on comfort and efficiency, T6 will offer Air India passengers an entirely new and elevated guest experience,” Thody added. The move supports Air India’s ongoing transformation and its focus on enhancing the end‑to‑end customer journey across key international gateways. “New York has long been one of India’s most important global gateways; it’s a relationship that spans more than six decades,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India. “Our move to Terminal 6 will complement the deployment of our flagship aircraft offering the “new Air India experience” to our customers. T6’s guest-centric design, operational efficiency and the proximity to fellow Star Alliance members will further elevate our customers’ experience and enable smoother, seamlessly connected journeys through JFK starting in 2028.” Since its privatization in 2022, Air India has been undergoing a comprehensive transformation spanning fleet renewal, new cabin products, digital transformation, operational enhancements, and elevated customer experience initiatives. The airline has placed record orders for 600 aircraft and continues to introduce new and retrofitted cabin products, expand its global network, enhance on-board offerings, and invest significantly in technology platforms to deliver seamless travel experiences across customer touchpoints.

Prime Minister  to inaugurate GMR Skill Development Centre, Aviation Hub-University and GMR-MANSAS Edu City along with airport Mumbai: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram will emerge as the jewel of North Andhra. Reviewing arrangements with senior officials for the inauguration of the airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1, the Chief Minister directed that the event be conducted on a grand scale. The Chief Minister instructed officials to accord a traditional welcome to  Prime Minister, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of North Andhra region. Officials informed the Chief Minister that, along with the inauguration of the passenger terminal building, the Prime Minister will also formally inaugurate the GMR Skill Development Centre, the Aviation Hub-University and the GMR-MANSAS Edu City. Describing the airport as a landmark project for North Andhra, the Chief Minister said it would serve as a logistics hub, provide global connectivity and become a game changer for Andhra Pradesh’s economic growth. The Chief Minister directed officials to honour the farmers and landowners who contributed land for the project by providing them with a one-time complimentary air travel opportunity. To ensure the smooth conduct of the event, the Chief Minister asked officials to make comprehensive arrangements, including traffic diversions, dedicated parking facilities and robust security. He also directed that adequate amenities should be provided for the public attending the meeting. The Chief Minister instructed officials to undertake an extensive publicity campaign on the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport from tomorrow until July 31. He said the inauguration should become a people’s celebration, with awareness programmes reaching every household across the districts of North Andhra over the next ten days. He also suggested using the occasion to strengthen the branding of Araku Coffee, which has been promoted by Prime Minister Modi on international platforms. The Chief Minister directed all public representatives from North Andhra to actively participate in the programmes beginning Tuesday.

Navi Mumbai, 15th July 2026: The World is now closer to Navi Mumbai as its newly opened airport welcomed its first international scheduled flight as Air India Express flight IX208 from Abu Dhabi landed at 10:20 am. The aircraft was accorded a ceremonial water cannon salute, symbolising the airport’s international debut and reinforcing its role as India’s newest gateway to the world.

Melbourne, 13th July 2026: As per the latest passenger data shared by Visit Victoria, almost 37 million passengers travelled through Melbourne Airport in the 2026 Financial Year, with the airport marking the busiest 12-month period for international travel since its opening in 1970. The Annual international passenger numbers through the Australia’s largest 24-hour gateway surpassed 12 million for the first time, with a total of 12,256,328 people welcomed across 57,002 international passenger flights. The 2026 financial year included Melbourne Airport’s busiest month on record, with 3,421,195 people transiting through the four terminals in December 2025. Across the financial year, the top non-Australian arrivals by passport country of origin were: –     China 636,245 (up 8%) –     New Zealand 517,943 (up 1.3%) –     India 323,308 (down 4.9%) –     United Kingdon 201,261 (up 9.4%) –     United States 142,339 (up 7.9%) The monthly passenger numbers in June were down slightly on the previous year, with seat capacity to the key Middle East hubs of Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi progressively resuming, but yet to return to pre-conflict levels. While. the domestic traveller numbers were relatively stable in June despite a reduction in airline seat capacity but grew 2.2 per cent across the 12-month period. Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said, “the growing passenger volumes highlighted the need for the airport’s privately funded investment in its road network, airfield and terminals along with government investment in a modernised border.” She added, “we’ve committed to a $4.5 billion expansion of our international terminal, a new third runway and an enhanced road network to cater for Melbourne’s growth.” Lorie Argus further mentioned, “Passengers will start to notice some of these changes in October, when we open our new and much larger, free pick up and drop off zones for Qantas, International and Virgin Australia travellers in the T123 Transport Hub.Given the growing volume of travellers, the international arrivals process is currently one of our biggest passenger pain points, so we’re pleased the Federal Government has committed to fixing this.We’re excited to work with the Federal Government to ensure a seamless rollout of the new digital arrivals process in Melbourne.”

Delhi, 22nd June 2026: Qatar Airways has announced the resumption of daily flights between its Doha home base and Philadelphia from 1 August 2026, with service on the Doha (DOH)–Philadelphia (PHL) and Philadelphia (PHL)–Doha (DOH) routes, extending the airline’s North American network to a total of 14 destinations with 11 destinations alone in the U.S., further strengthening its connectivity for travellers across the world. Qatar Airways will resume the direct flights to the largest city in Pennsylvania, operating Airbus A350-900 aircraft equipped with the airline’s award-winning Qsuite business class and Starlink, the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky, ensuring a seamless journey for passengers. The resumption of flights reflects the airline’s deep commitment to the U.S. market and will provide travellers from across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East with a new route via its award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport. In the U.S., the resumed flights will provide enhanced onward connectivity through Qatar Airways’ oneworld partner, American Airlines. Since launching its inaugural U.S. service to New York in 2007, Qatar Airways has steadily expanded its presence across North America, offering passengers increased flexibility, premium travel experiences, and seamless connectivity to more than 160 destinations worldwide. This summer, in addition to PHL, Qatar Airways will operate flights to 11 other U.S. destinations: Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Washington, D.C. (IAD).