Latest news with #Adani-managed
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Ospree Duty Free launches India's first in-lounge retail experience at Mumbai airport, ET TravelWorld
Adani Airport Holdings has terminated its recent partnership with DragonPass. This decision was made just a week after the collaboration began. DragonPass customers will no longer have lounge access at Adani-managed airports. Adani Power also secured a deal to supply thermal power to Uttar Pradesh. The company won a bid to provide 1500 MW of power at a competitive rate.
India Today
16-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Adani drops Chinese lounge partner DragonPass: What it means for Indian flyers
A newly minted partnership between Adani Airport Holdings and Chinese travel platform DragonPass has been dropped barely a week after take-off. The move, triggered by rising national security concerns, has ended DragonPass's access to Adani-managed airport lounges across the country.'DragonPass customers will no longer have access to lounges at Adani-managed airports,' the company said in a statement, adding that regular travellers will see no disruption in lounge or travel DID ADANI DROP DRAGONPASS? At the heart of the pullback lies India's sharpened scrutiny of foreign entities operating in critical infrastructure. Following the Pahalgam terror attack and rising cross-border tensions with Pakistan, authorities have stepped up their review of Chinese and Turkish firms in aviation and other sensitive headquartered in Guangzhou, offers global airport lounge access and travel privileges via credit cards and corporate programs. In India, the company had quietly built a vast footprint—partnering with Adani lounges in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Guwahati, as well as securing access to multiple terminals at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Delhi, DragonPass had been active in over 30 Indian cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, and Srinagar, making it one of the widest-spread foreign players in India's lounge that very scale raised red flags. Concerns reportedly emerged over data privacy, passenger information access, and potential surveillance risks. With lounge operations integrated into airport networks, regulators were wary of giving a Chinese platform backend visibility into passenger movement and behavioural RUNS DRAGONPASS?advertisementInterestingly, DragonPass is helmed by Mark Ian Koch, a British national. Koch also heads DragonPass International Ltd, a UK-registered arm of the company. Despite its Chinese roots, the firm has been positioning itself as a global brand, claiming over 10 million members and aiming to scale up to 1,500 lounges worldwide by due to geopolitical headwinds, its ties to China—and its growing control over digital travel infrastructure—proved too strong to move against DragonPass isn't isolated. The government has also revoked security clearance for Turkish firm Celebi Airport Services, which handles ground operations at several Indian airports. Together, the actions reflect a strategic rethink of foreign involvement in aviation services—especially from countries that have drawn scrutiny on national security WILL IT IMPACT FLYERS?For frequent travellers, the change is unlikely to cause major inconvenience. Domestic aggregator DreamFolks continues to dominate the lounge access space in India, while Priority Pass remains the gold standard globally and is widely accepted across Indian airports through partnerships with leading Indian credit cards, too, offer direct lounge access benefits that remain while DragonPass's departure might mean fewer swipe options for some cards, alternatives are aplenty.
India.com
16-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
Gautam Adani gives biggest setback to China amid 'Boycott China' trends, China will now be...
Gautam Adani- File image In a significant setback for China after it helped Pakistan attack India with its drones during the recent India-Pakistan conflict, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) has ended its partnership with DragonPass, a China-based firm known for offering airport lounge access and other travel-related services to its global members. The announcement came on Thursday, with AAHL confirming that DragonPass users will no longer be able to access lounges at any of its managed airports across India. This includes key hubs like Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, which also issued a formal statement regarding the termination. 'Lounge access through DragonPass will no longer be valid at any Adani-managed airports. However, this update will not affect the travel or lounge experience for any other category of passengers,' an AAHL spokesperson clarified. This development coincides with growing scrutiny over foreign service providers, especially those from nations seen as aligning with Pakistan in the wake of India's recent Operation Sindoor, a military response to the tragic killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir. The operation has stirred a wave of national sentiment, prompting swift government and corporate actions. In a related incident, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has withdrawn the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd, a Turkish ground handling firm. The move was reportedly driven by national security considerations and came after strong reactions from political leaders and public figures. DragonPass had been offering its services at Adani's airports as part of a limited arrangement meant to enhance the experience of international travelers and cardholders. However, with shifting geopolitical dynamics and heightened national interest, AAHL appears to be re-evaluating its affiliations with global service partners. Adani Airport Holdings currently oversees operations at seven major airports in India, including those in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Guwahati, Mangaluru, and Thiruvananthapuram. (With inputs from agencies)
Arabian Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Adani Abruptly Terminates DragonPass Lounge Access Deal
Adani Airport Holdings Limited has abruptly ended its partnership with DragonPass, a China-based global airport lounge access provider, just a week after announcing the collaboration. The termination, effective immediately, means DragonPass customers will no longer have access to lounges at Adani-managed airports. The company assured that other customers' travel experiences will remain unaffected. The partnership, announced on May 8, 2025, was facilitated by Adani Digital Labs, a digital extension of AAHL and Adani Enterprises Ltd. It granted DragonPass access to all Adani airport lounges and key lounges across India. DragonPass, headquartered in Guangzhou, China, operates internationally with offices across Asia and the UK. Its UK branch, DragonPass International Limited, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Chinese parent company. The decision to end the partnership was made quickly, though further details regarding the reasons behind the abrupt termination have not been disclosed. This swift move highlights a sudden change in Adani's strategic alliances concerning airport service offerings. Adani currently operates seven airports across India, including those in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Jaipur, Guwahati, and Thiruvananthapuram, and is developing a new airport in Navi Mumbai. The termination of the DragonPass partnership signifies a strategic shift in Adani's airport services operations. In 2024, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd faced disruptions in lounge access at airports across India due to the suspension of services by DreamFolks Services Ltd. To mitigate the impact on passengers, AAHL allowed lounges at Adani-operated airports to accept all major debit and credit cards from other access providers. The lounge access provider, which partners with several banks, violated its service agreements with the affected airports. See also India Navigates Trade Turmoil as Global Markets Reel Adani Group has also been exploring partnerships to enhance its airport lounge services. The company is in talks with Hong Kong-based Plaza Premium Group to run airport lounges in India through a joint venture, aiming to elevate hospitality standards. Plaza Premium Group has an international footprint at 80 airports in 30 countries. Adani One and ICICI Bank launched India's first co-branded credit cards with airport-linked benefits in collaboration with Visa. Available in two variants—the Adani One ICICI Bank Signature Credit Card and the Adani One ICICI Bank Platinum Credit Card—the cards offer a substantial reward programme. Cardholders earn up to 7% Adani Reward Points on purchases within the Adani Group ecosystem, including bookings on the Adani One app, Adani-managed airports, CNG pumps, electricity bills, and the Trainman platform. Benefits include free air tickets, premium lounge access, Pranaam Meet and Greet Service, valet parking, and discounts at duty-free shops and airport food and beverage outlets.
India Gazette
15-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Adani Airport Holdings terminates partnership with Chinese company DragonPass
New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI): Adani Airport Holdings announced the immediate end of its partnership with the newly formed partnership with Chinese company DragonPass on Thursday, just a week after the association began. The platform offered airport lounge access services. A spokesperson confirmed that DragonPass customers will no longer get access to lounges at Adani-managed airports, though the change will not impact the lounge and travel experience of other passengers. 'Our association with DragonPass, which provided access to airport lounges, has been terminated with immediate effect. DragonPass customers will no longer have access to lounges at Adani-managed airports. This change will have no impact on the airport lounge and travel experience for other customers,' an Adani Airport Holdings spokesperson said. This comes a week after Adani Digital Labs partnered with Dragonpass to elevate fliers' airport lounge and travel experiences. Adani Digital Labs is the digital innovation arm of the Adani Group, dedicated to transforming how billions of users interact with essential services. The company said that as the digital extension of Adani-managed airports under Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL) and Adani Enterprises Ltd. (AEL), ADL plays a strategic role in shaping the future of travel and airport experiences. The company added that ADL is deeply integrated into the operations of India's leading airports, enhancing efficiency, personalisation, and connectivity at every touchpoint, from streamlining passenger journeys to enabling cashless ecosystems and digital-first conveniences. By combining cutting-edge technologies with human-centred design and forging powerful strategic partnerships, ADL is redefining what it means to deliver seamless, scalable, and rewarding experiences, all through the lens of the Adani Group's commitment to nation-building and customer-centric innovation. In another development, Adani Power said on Saturday that it won a tightly contested bid to supply 1500 MW (net) of thermal power to Uttar Pradesh. As part of the contract, the Adani Group company will supply power at a highly competitive tariff of Rs 5.383 per unit from a greenfield 2x800 MW (1500 MW net) Ultra-supercritical power plant to be set up in the state under the Design, Build, Finance, Own, and Operate (DBFOO) model. (ANI)
