Chapter 2. Anticipate
A new international dimensionA NEW INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION
Groupe ADP continues to expand internationally. Two years after taking control of the Turkish operator TAV Airports, it has taken another decisive step forward with its acquisition of a 49% equity stake in the Indian operator GMR Airports. TAV Airports has further expanded its network in Central Asia with a new operating presence in Kazakhstan.
THE BIRTH OF ONE OF THE WORLD’S FOREMOST AIRPORT ALLIANCES
GMR Airports is a family-owned group headed by GM Rao, and one of India’s leading airport operators with a portfolio of six airports, three of which are currently operational (New Delhi and Hyderabad in India and Mactan-Cebu International airport in the Philippines) and three of which are under construction (Goa and Boghapuram in India, and Heraklion in Greece). It also owns GADL, a project management subsidiary company. Its Delhi and Hyderabad airports are leading by example, having already achieved carbon neutrality, as measured relative to the standards set by the ACI (Airports Council International) certification programme, and are among the highest rated in Asia for service quality in the Skytrax 2020 rankings.
In GMR Airports, Groupe ADP has acquired an exceptional company with high-quality assets, not in terms of their size and growth potential, but also for their operational excellence and quality of service. In other words, it has gained a powerful driver of long-term growth in one of the world’s most dynamic and forward-looking countries. The proportion of Indian nationals travelling by air is still very low, but domestic traffic in India shows a surprising level of resilience.
Cooperation plans for 2021
Finalised in July 2020, despite the global pandemic, this acquisition is fully consistent with the Group’s strategy to build an integrated international group around major airport platforms. An industrial and airport cooperation plan designed to embrace identities and cultures will be introduced in 2021 to develop existing synergies in a number of key areas, such as engineering and operational expertise in infrastructures and procedures, hospitality and quality of service for passengers, smart airport innovations, and an environmentally and regionally sustainable and responsible development model.
Structured around three major development platforms – those operated by Groupe ADP itself, TAV Airports and now GMR Airports – the resulting network creates the world’s leading airport alliance and consolidates the global leadership of Groupe ADP.
◆Finalised in June 2020, the acquisition of a 49% equity stake in Indian operator GMR Airports establishes Groupe ADP firmly as a world leader in the airport industry.