# Adani Airports CEO outlines plan to cut passenger user fees 2026-09-24T03:12:10+00:00 | Business & Economy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Adani Group aims to reduce regulatory passenger charges to a bare minimum by scaling up non-aeronautical revenue, CEO Arun Bansal said on Wednesday at the SBI Banking & Economics Conclave 2026. The Hindu reports Bansal said aeronautical charges currently contribute 60 percent of revenue at its eight airports, with non-aeronautical sources such as retail and advertising making up the rest. He expects that by 2030, the ratio will flip to 70 percent from non-aeronautical sources, allowing the group to cross-subsidise regulated fees. Bansal stated the ambition is to make regulatory charges so low they become irrelevant. The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority sets these tariffs, including landing charges and user development fees. On the airline business question, the Times of India reports Bansal said he would not compete with his customers: 'My hands are full.' Adani Group has drawn up a $10 billion capex plan to expand airports, including Navi Mumbai, which began freighter operations in August. ## Indian Opinion Analysis All sources carry Bansal's remarks as straight business reporting, but their leads differ: The Hindu focuses on the fee-reduction goal and business model shift, while the Times of India leads with Bansal's refusal to enter airlines. No source challenges the feasibility of cutting regulated charges to zero or the implied reliance on rising passenger traffic. The common thread is an ambitious infrastructure bet by the group. Watch whether AERA's tariff framework allows the cross-subsidy structure Bansal describes to work as promised. ## Coverage - thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report) Leads with regulatory fee reduction, same event, no slant - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Leads with airline competition question, no slant detected - thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report) Leads with regulatory fee reduction, same event, no slant Tags: Adani Group, AERA, Arun Bansal, aviation, Navi Mumbai airport Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/adani-plans-to-cut-airport-user-fees-to-bare-minimum/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/adani-plans-to-cut-airport-user-fees-to-bare-minimum/#story-in-brief