In a major move toward digital transformation, Adani Airports Holding Ltd. has announced that passengers can now directly access lounge services at its airports via the company’s official website, removing the need for third-party intermediaries.
CEO Arun Bansal shared the development on LinkedIn, stating,
“Passengers across India can now access lounges directly through our platform in partnership with lounge operators. This means no intermediaries – only a seamless, world-class experience.”
8 Airports to Benefit from Digital Integration
The service is applicable across the eight airports managed by the Adani Group:
- Mumbai
- Ahmedabad
- Lucknow
- Jaipur
- Mangaluru
- Guwahati
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Upcoming Navi Mumbai Airport
The initiative is being spearheaded by Adani Airports Digital Lab, the technology and digital innovation wing of the airport operator. The new model aims to improve customer experience by offering direct booking options for lounge access and other services, streamlining the process for passengers.
Response to Aggregator Exit and Industry Shifts
This announcement comes shortly after Dreamfolks, a major airport service aggregator, informed the stock exchange that Axis Bank and ICICI Bank had ended partnerships under circumstances that reportedly involved “pressure from two airport operators.”
Dreamfolks also mentioned that this loss could have a material financial impact, especially since a significant portion of its revenue came from providing airport lounge access through credit card-linked services.
What This Means for Travelers
The shift suggests a growing trend of airport operators bypassing aggregators and offering services directly to customers. This not only allows greater control over the user experience but also reduces dependency on third-party platforms.
As credit card-based lounge access faces disruptions, passengers may increasingly turn to airport websites and apps for seamless, direct service bookings.
This also signals a larger disruption in the airport experience ecosystem, one where airport operators may take the lead in delivering services that were previously mediated through external vendors.
