In a move that has raised eyebrows and impacted frequent flyers across India, Adani Airport Holdings has officially terminated its lounge access partnership with DragonPass, a China-based global travel services platform. The decision, which took effect on May 15, 2025, means that DragonPass members will no longer be able to access lounges across Adani-managed airports, including major hubs such as Mumbai (CSMIA), Ahmedabad, and Lucknow, among others.
Sudden U-turn on Lounge Access
The development marks a sharp reversal in what was initially a significant expansion move earlier in May 2025, when DragonPass was added as an accepted lounge access provider across Adani-operated terminals. This had allowed DragonPass members—many of whom access airport lounges via premium credit cards, corporate memberships, and fintech aggregators—to use lounges operated or managed under the Adani Airports umbrella.
However, in a media statement issued on May 15, Adani Airport Holdings stated:
Our association with DragonPass… has been terminated with immediate effect. DragonPass customers will no longer have access to lounges at Adani-managed airports.
The statement also emphasised that the decision would have no bearing on other lounge users, adding, “This change will have no impact on the airport lounge and travel experience for other customers.”
Security and Strategic Concerns at Play
While the official statement from Adani was measured, media reports—including one from The Times of India—suggest the termination stemmed from concerns over the ownership and origin of DragonPass. The company is headquartered in Guangzhou, China. Amid a growing wave of scrutiny over Chinese-linked entities operating in sensitive sectors in India, the association is likely to come under internal review.
According to a TOI report, Adani officials took a proactive decision to distance themselves from any Chinese affiliations, particularly in a context where national security and data privacy considerations are being taken more seriously in sectors such as aviation, telecom, and fintech.
What This Means for Travellers
DragonPass is one of the significant global lounge access platforms, widely integrated into premium banking products, fintech cards, and corporate travel solutions. Its removal from Adani-operated airports affects not only Indian cardholders of some card programmes but also impacts inbound international travellers accustomed to using the DragonPass app for airport services.
Passengers flying through Mumbai’s Terminal 2 or Lucknow and Ahmedabad’s newer terminals may now find that their usual lounge access via DragonPass is denied, unless they hold alternate memberships like Priority Pass, DreamFolks, or direct airline status-based access.
Bottomline
The termination of the DragonPass partnership at Adani-managed airports is a reminder of how geopolitics, business strategy, and passenger experience are increasingly intersecting in India’s aviation landscape. While the move is framed as a routine realignment of partnerships, its timing and abruptness point to larger considerations beyond just commercial performance.
For now, travellers relying on DragonPass should check their membership options and explore alternate modes of lounge access before heading to an Adani-managed airport. And for banks and card issuers, the development underscores the need for robust, diversified lounge access partnerships in a world where affiliations can shift rapidly, sometimes overnight.
What do you make of the current flip-flop from Adani Airports within a week of launching the partnership?
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