Mangaluru International Airport was honored with the International Safety Award 2025 by the British Safety Council for its excellence in health and safety standards, underscoring its commitment to ensuring the well-being of passengers, employees, and stakeholders.

Mangaluru International Airport's management is set to be completely transferred to the Adani Group from October 31, ending the joint management arrangement with the Airport Authority of India.

Mangaluru International Airport, after a three-year joint management period, will be completely taken over by Adani Group from October 31, leading to significant staff restructuring as nearly 50% of AAI personnel are transferred out.

Nearly 350 airport ground staff protested against the contractor's dismissal of experienced workers, many from marginalized communities, demanding job security. Following the protest, airport authorities convened a meeting and promised the reinstatement of five out of seven sacked employees.

AAI employees held a protest at Mangalore International Airport on September 28, demonstrating against a proposal by the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to privatize 17 airports. This protest, part of a broader nationwide labor movement, underscores concerns over privatization's potential negative impact on job security and workers' rights.

The Karnataka High Court refused to intervene in the privatization deal for Mangaluru International Airport, thereby upholding the central government's policy decision made in 2019 and the subsequent concession agreement. The decision came despite challenges regarding the bidding process and privatization of a public asset.

Karnataka High Court dismissed a PIL against the privatization of Mangaluru International Airport. The decision highlighted controversies over the airport’s transfer to the Adani Group, the removal of the 'Adani' tag following protests, and concerns raised by the Airports Authority Employees Union about the fairness and transparency of the leasing process under a PPP model.

The Airport Employees Union has filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court challenging the lease decision that would allow Adani Enterprises Limited to operate Mangaluru International Airport. The petition argues that the privatization process is illegal, arbitrary, and threatens to undermine employee work conditions by changing their status without adequate protections.

The Airports Authority Employees Union has filed a writ petition in Karnataka High Court contesting the decision to lease Mangaluru International Airport to Adani Enterprises. The petition argues that the privatization process, which includes a controversial bidding procedure, is illegal, arbitrary, and undermines employee rights, calling for interim relief to preserve the current conditions of service.

A petition filed by the Airports Authority Employees Union in February 2021 challenged the government’s decision to hand over Mangaluru International Airport to Adani Enterprises, arguing that the privatization is illegal, arbitrary, and detrimental to employee rights and public accountability.

Mangaluru International Airport was handed over to Adani Group through a 50‐year public-private partnership agreement starting October 31, 2020. The deal has been widely criticized amid allegations of political favoritism and regulatory capture, reflecting broader controversies surrounding Adani Group's close ties with the government.

The Airport Authority Employees Union has raised concerns over the privatization of Mangaluru Airport, alleging that the 50‐year lease awarded to the Adani Group—considerably longer than the 30‐year limit under the AAI Act—represents a departure from legal standards and may indicate regulatory capture favoring corporate interests.