Airports and Aviation
Trilegal has advised leading airlines, cargo carriers, and airport authorities on a broad spectrum of acquisition, litigation, transactional, construction, real estate and regulatory matters. We have offered strategic advice to businesses on M&A, joint ventures, airport/aircraft financing, airport development, land leasing and development, bankruptcy and restructuring, airline and fuel agreements, compensation matters and areas of aviation law.
India’s aviation market is on the path to rapid growth with the restoration of passenger traffic post-pandemic. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation, the country is currently the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world and is expected to surpass the UK to become the third-largest air passenger market in the world in 2024. Factors such as the increase in middle-income households, encouraging government policies, infrastructure development at major airports, and healthy competition among low-cost airlines have given the required thrust to the sector. Simultaneously, government regulations are also evolving to strengthen the industry – In 2021, the Indian Parliament passed the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021, “allowing tariff determination of a ‘group of airports’ by way of amending the definition of ‘major airport’ to support the development of small airports. Invest India, a national investment promotion and facilitation agency, states that the Indian government is expected to invest nearly USD 1.83 billion in airport infrastructure by 2026 and create 220 new airports by 2025. Most recently, the Government of India divested its entire stake in Air India, the national carrier, to the Tata Group. Tata Group is now looking to merge its existing airline investments in Tata SIA Airlines Ltd (Vistara) and Air India to create the second-largest airline in the country. As a result, the aviation and airport sector is set to offer myriad consolidation and acquisition opportunities that businesses can leverage for further growth.
Trilegal has advised leading airlines, cargo carriers, and airport authorities on a broad spectrum of acquisition, litigation, transactional, construction, real estate and regulatory matters. Our highly experienced lawyers offer strategic and pragmatic advice with a blend of legal acumen and industry knowledge, and have assisted businesses on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, airport/aircraft financing, airport development, land leasing and development, bankruptcy and restructuring, airline and fuel agreements, compensation matters and areas of aviation law.
Trilegal has also advised airline investors on strategic fund raises – including conducting due diligence, assisting with transaction structuring and providing advice on foreign exchange regulations and guidelines on civil aviation.
Some of our clients in this space include –
- Etihad Airways PJSC
- Airbus
- American Airlines
- Tata SIA Airlines Ltd (Vistara)
- SNV Aviation (Akasa Air)
- InterGlobe Aviation Ltd (IndiGo)
- Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL)
- Reliance Airport Developers
- Airports Authority of India (AAI)
- Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL)
