INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Airports Authority of India panels found Adani Group violating branding norms at three airportsThree committees of the Airports Authority of
India (AAI) in January found the Adani group to be in violation of branding norms, prescribed in the concession agreements, at the airports
in Ahmedabad, Mangaluru and Lucknow that the conglomerate took over last year.Consequently, the Adani group companies - which are operating
these three airports - have started making changes in brandings and displays in order to bring them in accordance with the concession
agreements that they had signed with the AAI.As on June 29, the changes in brandings and displays were in process at Lucknow and Manglauru
airports and had been completed at the Ahmedabad airport, the AAI stated.PTI has accessed various documents related to this matter,
including details received in response to RTI queries.The Adani group won the bids to run the aforementioned three airports in February 2019
Ahmedabad International Airport Limited (AAIAL) - signed the concession agreements with the AAI in February 2020
These companies then took charge of airports in October and November 2020.The AAI in December 2020 found the brandings and displays at the
three airports not in accordance with the concession agreements
Therefore, it wrote letters to ALIAL, AMIAL and AAIAL, asking them to take "corrective measures".However, these companies in late December
responded that they have not violated the branding norms of the agreements.A month later, the AAI formed three separate committees to carry
out "joint survey" of all hoardings and displays at the three airports and check if they are in compliance with the concession
agreements.Each committee had four members: one executive of the Adani group company that is operating the airport, one official of the
Centre-run Engineering Projects (India) Limited and two officials of the AAI.In late January, the committee formed on the Lucknow airport
It said, "The joint inspection committee found that airport name hoardings displayed by concessionaire (ALIAL) at the airport entrance and
exit roads has also got Adani Airports written on both sides of Lucknow International Airport hoardings, which is in violation of concession
5.15.2."The committee also found that the name and logo of the AAI was not equally and prominently displayed in other displays where the
concessionaire intends to display its own name, which was again violation of the Article 5.15.2 of the concession agreement.Clause 5.15.2 of
the three concession agreements stated that the airports will be known, promoted, displayed, advertised and branded by their name only such
as "Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport", "Lucknow International Airport" and "Mangaluru International Airport".The clause also
also stated that if the concessionaire intends to display its own name or its shareholders at the spots where other public notices are
displayed for the users, the same will be preceded by the AAI's name.In late January, the committee formed on the Mangaluru airport found
similar violations of clause 5.15.2 by the concessionaire (AMIAL), as were observed by the Lucknow airport's committee.At the same time,
logo is not displayed before the logo of AAIAL and additionally, the size is not uniform."The size of the AAIAL logo with respect to AAI is
almost 6:1 ratio," the committee on Ahmedabad airport added.Moreover, the committee on Ahmedabad airport found that the clause 5.15.1 of the
concession agreement has been "totally ignored and violated while displaying the identity of the concessionaire (AAIAL)".Clause 5.15.1 of
the concession agreement signed between AAIAL and AAI stated: "The airport or any part thereof shall not be branded in any manner to
advertise, display or reflect the name or identity of the concessionaire (AAIAL) or its shareholder.""Save and except as may be necessary in
the normal course of business and always with the name of the Authority (AAI), the concessionaire (AAIAL) undertakes that it shall not, in
any manner, use the name or identity of the airport to advertise or display its own identity, brand equity or business interests, including
those of its shareholders," the clause added.PTI asked the Adani group if it agrees with the findings of these three committees and if it
has completed changing the displays and brandings at the three airports so that they are in accordance with the concession agreements.In
response, an Adani group spokesperson said, "We are proud to partner with the AAI and continue to work together to offer best-in-class
airport infrastructure to the passengers, ensuring the most seamless and secure airport experience
The AAI and Adani Airports have mutually agreed for the co-branding at the airports and other related avenues.""As per the agreement, logos
Presence of the both strong brands demonstrates the true spirit of Public Private Partnership that aims at improving the passengers'' travel
experience besides connecting India and the world better," the spokesperson said in a statement.
