Government and Business Case Study

GMR Airport Business: Facing Challenging Times

OR

Abstract:
The case study ‘GMR Airport Business: In Challenging Times’ discusses how the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) initiative has changed the airport infrastructure in India. However, changing regulations have thrown up new challenges for the private partners. Adding to this challenge is the growing debt of Indian infrastructure companies. The case discusses how GMR, one of the leading airport infrastructure developers, faced a tough time due to its airport business which contributed to around 42% of its revenue. Despite winning international awards for its Delhi and Hyderabad airports, the company was unable to reach its anticipated financial goals. The case also covers the infrastructure sector in India with specific reference to the airport business and brings out the challenges in entering into PPP deals in an emerging country like India. Spiraling debt, the depreciating currency, project delays, and changing economic conditions often throw the assumptions of the projects into disarray.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• Understand the role of Public-Private Partnership initiatives in the development of world class airport infrastructure in India
• Understand the airport infrastructure in India and the various initiatives taken by the government over the years
• Understand the effect of changing regulations and economic conditions on the business of developing airports in India
• Understand the airport business of GMR and its specific challenges

Keywords : Currency risk, GMR Group, Mohamed Nasheed, Maldives, Infrastructure, Airport, G.M. Rao, Public Private Partnerships, Delhi International Airport Private Limited, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited, Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen International Airport, Ibrahim Nasir International Airport Pvt. Ltd., Airports Economic Regulatory Authority, Single-till model, Double-till model, Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide, Eraman Malaysia, Land bank, Airport Traffic, Project delay