India’s Adani Group is expanding its airport business internationally, bidding to operate Sicily’s main airport and exploring a bid for Associated British Ports in the UK. Jeet Adani, director of airports and son of Gautam Adani, said the group will seek opportunities "very selectively" in international markets. The moves follow the US Justice Department dropping charges in May against Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar related to an alleged bribery scheme in a solar power project, later dismissed by a US court, with the SEC also settling a fraud case.

Adani Airport Holdings raised $1bn from investors including Temasek, BlackRock, Alpha Wave Global, and Premji Invest, valuing the subsidiary at $18bn and giving investors a 5.54% stake upon completion of three tranches by June 2027. The funds will support domestic expansion, modernisation, integrated airport-city ecosystems, and scaling passenger-facing and non-aeronautical businesses. Adani currently operates eight airports in India and plans to bid for 11 more under a 50-year PPP model, having won all six offered in 2019.

The group aims to increase annual passenger capacity to 200mn. The $18bn valuation positions Adani above rival GMR Airports, traded at ~$11bn, strengthening its position ahead of a planned IPO of the airports unit in fiscal year 2028.