Adani Airport Holdings ends partnership with DragonPass, confirms exit from deal

Adani Airport Holdings has officially ended its partnership with DragonPass, a global travel services company based in China. This decision means that DragonPass members will no longer be allowed to use airport lounges at any of the Adani-managed airports in India.

The company made the announcement on Thursday, May 15, 2025. It said that the termination of this partnership is effective immediately. However, Adani Airport Holdings has not shared any reason behind this sudden decision.

No lounge access for DragonPass customers

Adani Airport Holdings manages several major airports in India. These include Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, and Mangaluru. DragonPass users, who earlier had access to lounge facilities at these airports, will now be denied entry.

A spokesperson from Adani Airport Holdings said, “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 not affect the lounge or travel experience of other customers.”

This means that travelers who are not using DragonPass will not face any changes in services. Lounge access will continue as usual for those using other platforms or programs.

DragonPass is a travel service company that started in Guangzhou, China. It gives users digital access to over 1,300 airport lounges across the world. Apart from lounge access, DragonPass also offers many other travel-related services. These include discounts at airport restaurants, limousine bookings, and meet-and-greet assistance.

The company is popular among frequent travelers who look for smooth, premium services during their airport experience. It also ties up with banks and credit card companies around the world to provide these services to their clients.

Interestingly, the Adani Group had just announced a partnership with DragonPass a week before ending it. On May 8, 2025, Adani Digital Labs (ADL), the digital wing of the Adani Group, declared a collaboration with DragonPass. The goal was to improve customer experience across the airports it manages.

The partnership was announced as a step towards bringing digital services to travelers. It was meant to make airport services more user-friendly, cashless, and modern. It also aimed to offer customized services for both business and leisure travelers.

Now, with the sudden end of the partnership, the plan has been dropped completely.

Airports operated by Adani Group

Adani Airport Holdings operates seven major airports in India under public-private partnership agreements with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). These airports are:

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad

• Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow

• Jaipur International Airport

• Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati

• Trivandrum International Airport, Thiruvananthapuram

• Mangaluru International Airport

The group took over the management of these airports over the past few years. Since then, it has focused on modernizing them and improving the experience of travelers through better services and technology.

The spokesperson for Adani Airport Holdings made it clear that only DragonPass users will be affected. Other passengers will still be able to use airport lounges as usual, either through direct payments or other loyalty programs.

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So if you are not a DragonPass customer, you don’t need to worry. All other lounge services will continue as before.

While the announcement is clear about the end of the partnership, there is no explanation about why it was cancelled so soon after being announced. This has raised questions among travelers and industry observers.

Some speculate that the reason could be related to national security or data privacy concerns, especially since DragonPass is based in China. However, no official comment has been made in this regard.

The Adani Group has also not clarified what will replace DragonPass services at its airports. Travelers who used DragonPass are now left to look for alternatives.

Possible impact on frequent flyers

This move might affect many frequent flyers, especially business travelers who depend on lounge access for rest and work while traveling. Many banks and travel companies partner with DragonPass to provide lounge access to their premium customers.

With this sudden change, those customers might face inconvenience unless their service providers offer alternative access options at Adani airports.

The cancellation also brings attention to Adani Group’s digital and travel service plans. The partnership with DragonPass was presented as part of a larger strategy to enhance airport experience using technology.

Adani Digital Labs, which operates under Adani Enterprises Ltd., is responsible for all digital solutions at Adani-managed airports. It was working to build a system that supports smart travel experiences — like app-based services, seamless payments, and digital lounge entry.

Ending the partnership with DragonPass could mean that Adani now wants to develop its own platform or work with another service provider. However, nothing has been confirmed yet.

Some experts believe that such sudden announcements may affect the confidence of partners and customers. Launching a service and cancelling it within a week is not a common move in the aviation industry.

Others argue that private airport operators have the right to change partners quickly if they feel the need. It could be a strategic move in response to regulatory advice or internal reviews.

Still, the lack of explanation from Adani has left room for speculation.

This development also highlights the need for transparency in global business ties, especially when national interest or security concerns may be involved. DragonPass, although a global brand, is based in China — a country with whom India has had tense relations in recent years.

Several Indian companies have reduced business ties with Chinese firms after the border clashes and growing concerns around cybersecurity.

It’s possible that Adani Airport Holdings decided to step back from the partnership due to such factors, even though it was officially promoted as a "strategic digital enhancement."

For now, passengers using Adani airports should be aware that DragonPass services are no longer accepted. It’s best to check with your bank or travel card provider if they offer other lounge access services.

The Adani Group has not revealed whether it will join hands with another travel service company or develop its own digital lounge access solution.

Passengers and industry watchers will be closely observing the group’s next move in this space.