Fight Against Corruption (NGO) Vs Airports Authority of India (Competition Commission of India)
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has dismissed allegations of monopolistic practices against the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), and GMR Airports Limited (GIL), among others. The case, initiated by Fight Against Corruption and the Contractor Council of India, alleged violations of Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2002, which prohibits abuse of dominant position. The informants claimed that GIL, through its control of DIAL, was engaging in anti-competitive behavior at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi.
The informants argued that GIL, holding a majority stake in DIAL, had entered into a concessionaire agreement with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) granting it exclusive operational rights over IGI for an extendable period. They further alleged that GIL was favoring certain entities in tender processes, specifically citing the formation of Delhi Airport Parking Services Private Limited (DAPSL) in collaboration with Tenaga Parking Services (India) Pvt. Ltd. (TPSPL). The informants claimed that the shareholding structure of DAPSL, with DIAL and GIL holding majority stakes, was designed to exclude other potential market entrants. Additionally, allegations of conflicts of interest were raised regarding the ownership of airport lounge services by individuals connected to GIL.
