New Delhi, Nov. 3 -- India should have three national carriers to support its growing aviation market and strengthen its position in international air travel, Adani Airports CEO Arun Bansal said, stressing the need to build globally competitive domestic airlines before opening up the sector to greater international competition.

Speaking at Delhi Aviation India 2026, Bansal said India needed a stronger domestic airline ecosystem to serve its growing passenger base and compete with international carriers.

"I think India deserves to have three national carriers," he said, adding that IndiGo and Air India could be counted among the country's national carriers, "but we need a third of their equal size."

He also called for Indian airlines to...