The Aldeasa-ITDC combine has bagged the Mumbai International Airport’s duty free retail contract for Rs 571 crore for the next three years. Aldeasa is a Spanish duty free major.
Others in the fray included DFS Group, the Nuance Group AG-Shoppers’ Stop joint venture, the Alpha Airports-Future Group consortium and the Dufry-Interglobe combine. Last month, the Alpha Airports-Future Group joint venture was awarded the duty free contract for the Delhi International airport for Rs 500 crore.
Riding on the boom in the air traffic in the country, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd is upgrading its infrastructure facilities it has created at various airports. This is to provide better service aircraft in supplying aviation fuel as the company controls over 97 airports out of 117 in the country. Indian Oil, with a share of 65 per cent of the aviation fuel market, is the major player both in civil and defence airports thereby meeting the requirements of 21 domestic, 64 international and 250 private airlines.
John D Kasarda is an advocate of the theory of ‘airport cities’. The theory, better known as Aerotropolis, has an airport as the central figure in the commercial development of an urban city with the population and business revolving around it—much similar to the ancient concept of planning cities around ports or crossroads.
The distinguished professor of management and director of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School says that cities built around international airports are better positioned for global trade and competitiveness. “The role and development impact of major airports are changing dramatically, and those in Asia are leading the way. A reason behind this development is that major airports here are much newer than most of those in the West with many located on large greenfield sites that are surrounded by a considerable amount of developable land. These permit city planners and developers to leverage airports’ new role as multimodal, multifunctional commercial development engines attracting businesses,” he elaborates.
Shoppers’ Stop has obtained Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to start its airport-retailing venture with the Nuance Group AG. With an authorised capital of Rs 25 crore, the 50:50 joint venture company, Nuance Group (India) Pvt Ltd, has already won the contract for the Bangalore airport.
With the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi having laid the foundation stone for the revamped Delhi airport last Saturday, the ball has been set rolling for the first modern, international-styled airport in the country. But, what has also been set rolling are the real estate rates all around. According to experts, a 10-15% rise in rates has already been registered in areas near the airport like Dwarks as well as Udyog Vihar, DLF Phase II & III in Gurgaon.
Says local realtor Vikram Chopra, “In a country where connectivity is a major issue and the construction of an expressway or a flyover result in a hike in the prices of the surrounding real estate, an airport that is going to be the first internationally-styled one in the country is big news. In fact, apart from Gurgaon and Dwarka, the increase in property rates has already started happening at farmhouse colonies like Westend Greens, Pushpanjali, Vasant Vihar and Shanti Niketan in South Delhi.”
Broad roads, wide airstrip and swanky lounge –Jollygrant airport here is all set for a makeover thanks to a new expansion programme. An estimated Rs 72 crore is being spent on the expansion of the airport.
The expansion work, which began early this year, was likely to be completed by the end of the year, said officials of the Airport Authority of India (AAI).
Recently, the Andhra Pradesh Government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed an agreement in Hyderabad to expand the Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Tirupati airports in the State, a move welcomed by all sections of people.
The roadmap for modernisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports is nearing completion and civil aviation ministry officials are already upbeat about the new “intelligent” and IT-enabled terminals coming up at major airports across the country.
“We are awaiting a report from the Tamil Nadu government regarding land acquisition. We are likely to get the report in the next two to three weeks.
“As soon as we get it, we will move the Union Cabinet on modernisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports,” Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla told reporters after inaugurating the “Inter Airport India” exhibition here.
The Adani-group promoted Mundra SEZ, which has its own airstrip for private executive jets, is planning to convert it into a fully-functional airport for commercial cargo and passenger planes. Equipped with the government’s approval for non-commercial operations, the company is expecting to get commercial airport status within the next five years.
Singapore’s Changi Airports International said on Wednesday that it has formed a strategic alliance with India’s Tata Group to invest in, develop and manage airports in India.
The companies will establish a joint venture firm that will bid for the Chennai and Kolkata airports which are being privatised by the Indian government, Changi Airports said in a statement.
“Privatisation programmes for both airports are expected to be formally announced some time later this year,” the statement said, adding that the joint venture will also look for investments in other Indian airports.
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