During the fiscal year 2018-2019, a record 33.30 million passengers transited through the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru (BLR Airport). It confirms that the Bengaluru airport is indeed one of the busiest and fastest growing airports in the world.
And to manage this growth, the BIAL (BLR Airport operator) has started a massive Rs.13,000-crore capacity expansion project.
New Routes & Airlines Boost Traffic Flow
The Bengaluru airport managed to achieve the milestone because of the addition of new routes to familiar destinations and new airlines. The airport registered a growth of 23.8% over the 26.91 million figures of last year.
In the 12-month period between 2018-19, the main driver of growth continued to be the domestic traffic which accounted for 28.82 million passengers, an increase of 24.8% as compared to last year’s 23.09 million.
Around 4.48 million passengers visited Bengaluru Airport for traveling to and from international destinations showing a growth of 17.5% over last year’s 3.81 million.
BLR Expansion To Meet Demands Of Aviation Market
The expansion has been planned considering the long-term demands of the Indian aviation market. It includes an advanced Cat-IIIB Code F Capable Runway, a 255,000 square meters Terminal II and landside expansion.
All these developments will provide the much-required capacity boost to the Bengaluru airport. The new terminal will become operational in 2021.
Until that time, BIAL will make use of various technology enhancements as well as innovations for easing congestion and making travel through the airport seamless.
According to the MD & CEO, Bangalore International Airport Ltd., Hari Marar, “Passengers at the BLR Airport have come to associate our Airport with a high-quality travel experience. Maintaining this experience poses a challenge, given the growth in passenger volumes we are currently witnessing. However, with careful hourly capacity management and investment in new technology, BIAL is committed to providing this to the best of our ability.”
He further added, “In order to support the growth at the BLR Airport, we have introduced several technology initiatives such as the fully-automated self-bag-drop machines, enabling passengers to complete the baggage check-in in under 45 seconds and the Smart Security Lane with Automated Tray Retrieval System to make travel seamless. Our other pioneering initiative that is set to go live soon is the biometric-based self-boarding solutions as part of the Government of India’s Digi Yatra programme.”
Work On Second Runaway In Full Swing
In his statement, Marar said that the work on the second runway and terminal and other supporting infrastructure is going on in full swing. These new developments will provide the Bengaluru Airport sufficient capacity so that the airport can meet the expected demand for the next 10 years that has been created by the ongoing unprecedented growth.
Bengaluru airport plays a major role in driving the economy of the city and the state. It offers a wide air-route network with 12 cargo airlines and 37 passenger airlines that connects the capital city of Bengaluru to the entire world.
