Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Tirupati Airport Included in 50-Year Private Management Plan
The government wants private companies to help run 11 airports.
Tirupati airport would be managed together with Tiruchirappalli International Airport.
One private company would operate both airports under a proposed 50-year agreement.
The airports would be divided into five groups, called bundles.
Companies are expected to invest about ₹8,622 crore to develop and operate them.
The plan has received approval in principle, but the government has not chosen an operator yet.
Existing airport workers would have a one-year period to work with the new managers.
After that, the private operator would have to keep 60 percent of the Airports Authority of India employees for up to three years.
Tirupati airport is proposed for private management under a 50-year public-private partnership concession.
Tirupati and Tiruchirappalli International Airport would form one bundle operated by a single concessionaire.
The plan covers 11 Airports Authority of India airports grouped into five bundles.
Private operators are expected to invest about ₹8,622 crore across the 11 airports.
Approval is only in principle, and no private operator has yet been selected for Tirupati.
- Who
- The Centre, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India, the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee and prospective private concessionaires are involved.
- What
- Tirupati airport is proposed to be leased to a private operator for 50 years and bundled with Tiruchirappalli International Airport.
- When
- The Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee granted in-principle approval on August 4; the Airports Authority of India board approved the bundling proposal on May 23, 2022.
- Where
- The proposal covers Tirupati airport and 10 other Airports Authority of India airports grouped into five bundles.
- Why
- The plan is intended to attract private investment and support airport development and operations while limiting asset concentration and protecting employees during the transition.
- Proposed concession period
- 50 years
- Airports covered
- 11 Airports Authority of India airports in five bundles
- Tirupati bundle
- Tirupati airport and Tiruchirappalli International Airport
- Expected private investment
- About ₹8,622 crore across all 11 airports
- Tirupati traffic in 2024-25
- 9.96 lakh passengers and 12,043 aircraft movements
- Employee transition
- One-year joint management period, followed by a requirement to retain 60% of Airports Authority of India employees for up to three years
- Approval status
- In-principle approval granted; no private operator selected
