Bengaluru Airport Poised To Become Global Aviation Hub

In a bid to elevate Bengaluru's status as a premier aviation hub for southern India, Air India has forged a strategic partnership with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).

This collaboration, set to unfold over the next five years, aims to bolster international connectivity, operational efficiency, and passenger experience.

This vision aligns with Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia's plan to transform Indian airports into aviation hubs and encourages domestic airlines to contribute to the establishment of an international civil aviation hub in India.

Bengaluru holds the promise of becoming a hub, not only for Indian airlines but also for international carriers, given the city's abundant business opportunities.

A significant asset in this regard is the recently constructed runway and the airport's substantial reliance on automation, both of which strongly attract airlines.

Campbell Wilson, Air India's Managing Director and CEO, hailed the agreement, stressing the pivotal role of airline-airport synergy in enhancing customer satisfaction and operational efficacy.

He underscored Bengaluru's strategic importance as both an origin-destination market and a crucial connecting hub, reaffirming Air India's commitment to amplifying air connectivity and establishing a major maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) centre in the region.

Joining forces with Tata Group airlines AIX and Vistara, Air India will ramp up its presence at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, expanding the network and operational capabilities.

Premium and frequent flyers of Air India and Vistara are set to benefit from a dedicated domestic lounge at Bengaluru airport. Air India has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Karnataka to develop comprehensive MRO facilities at the airport.

The partnership is anticipated to generate over 1,200 new job opportunities, fostering the growth of the MRO ecosystem in Karnataka.

Hari Marar, BIAL's Managing Director and CEO, echoed Wilson's sentiments, affirming the airport's unwavering commitment to fortifying its position as the primary international gateway in southern and central India.

Marar highlighted the collaboration's alignment with the Ministry of Civil Aviation's vision of nurturing Indian airports as hubs to enhance overall passenger experience, reports Economic Times.

With a significant portion of international outbound travellers from Bengaluru and its vicinity venturing to key destinations like Europe, North America, Australia, and the Far East, the alliance between Air India and BIAL is poised to capture a substantial share of long-haul routes from Bengaluru Airport in the foreseeable future.

BIAL currently ranks as India's third-largest airport, connecting 76 domestic destinations and 25 international destinations with the participation of 36 airlines and 13 freight carriers.

BIAL has expanded its workforce significantly, growing from 25,000 employees before the creation of Terminal 2 to its current count of 38,000. The airport aims to further increase its workforce to 50,000 within the next two years, according to Marar.

The airport served 31.9 million passengers in FY23, coming close to the pre-pandemic levels, and anticipates hosting 39-40 million passengers in FY24.