Singapore's Changi to manage Ahmedabad, Jaipur airports

Singapore's Changi Airport will soon start managing the terminal operations and parking at Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports.

This is the first time that an international operator will be managing domestic airports and the move also comes at a time when the government is working on ways to bolster the Indian aviation sector, which has a huge growth potential.

A decision to allow Changi Airport to manage Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Singapore.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman R K Srivastava said the modalities with respect to Changi taking over the management and operations of Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports were being worked out.

According to Srivastava, there would be no concessional agreement in place for the proposed partnership with Changi.

AAI, which is currently managing the two airports, is also awaiting the official agreement for the proposed partnership from the government.

Sources said that Changi would take care of terminal operations and parking at the two airports. Changi would be paid a fee for the management but the AAI would not be setting up any special purpose vehicle in this regard as no revenue sharing is contemplated.

A team from Changi Airport is expected to visit India and hold discussions with AAI officials by end of this month, they added.

Changi -- which operates the Singapore airport -- is one of the world's leading airport operators.

In 2014-15, Ahmedabad airport handled 5.05 million passengers, out of which 1.22 million were international travellers.

During the same time, Jaipur airport saw 2.20 million passengers and out of them, 0.33 million were international travellers.

By 2023-24, Ahmedabad is expected to see a total of 6.77 million passengers while Jaipur is anticipated to be 3.75 million.