Kempegowda International Airport Bangalore

Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore, is 10.5 Km away from Century Oneworld Seraya and takes only 25 minutes to reach. To reach the airport commuters can access the NH-44.

Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) is the main airport for Bangalore and is the third busiest airport in India. It is an important hub in South Asia. The airport is known for its public-private partnership model and modern expansion plans. It is named after Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda I, the founder of Bangalore.

The airport became the 1st ever fully solar-powered airport in Karnataka, developed by CleanMax Solar. It is managed by BIAL and is located about 30 km north of the city. The airport started operations in 2008 to handle the growing traffic, replacing the old HAL Airport as the city’s main airport.

Some key features of Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore, are:

It opened in 2008 and is named after the city’s founder.
After Delhi and Mumbai, it is the 3rd busiest airport in the country.
It ranks 29th among the busiest airports in Asia.
It is the 1st ever fully solar-powered airport in Karnataka.
It covers an area of about 4,700 acres.
It offers connecting flights to all six continents and direct flights to five.

Bangalore Airport Terminals

BLR has two passenger terminals designed for comfort and modern travel.

Terminal 1 (T1):

This is the first terminal of the airport. It mainly handles domestic flights within India. It has been expanded many times and can serve up to 25 million passengers every year.

Terminal 2 (T2):

This terminal is accessible for both domestic and international flights. It can also handle around 25 million passengers each year. It is called the “Terminal in a Garden” because it has hanging gardens, lots of natural light, and bamboo-style roofs that make it look green and natural.

Formation of KIAB

HAL Airport was started in 1942 for military use. It began domestic flights in the 1970s and started international flights in 1990, with Air India offering the first route to Singapore. In 2000, Nepal Airlines became the first foreign airline to fly from HAL Airport, followed by an A340 a year later.

As passenger numbers increased, the single runway at HAL Airport was not enough. In 1991, a committee was formed to find a new location for another airport. They chose a site about 30 km north of Bengaluru. Plans for the new airport were approved in 1994.

Construction began in July 2005 and finished in 32 months. The airport was supposed to open in March 2008, but because of delays in air traffic control services, it officially opened on 24 May 2008.

The airport offers many facilities, including:

Full-service dining
Wheelchairs
Medical services
Baby care rooms
Refreshments and duty-free shopping

Reasons behind KIAB's name

The airport was first called Bangalore International Airport. In 2009, a proposal was made to rename it after the city’s founder, but no action was taken then. Another proposal was passed in December 2011, accepted in 2012, and approved in July 2013. Finally, in December 2013, it was renamed Kempegowda International Airport.

The airport is well connected to all parts of the city through intercity buses, airport buses, car rentals, airport taxis, and app-based cabs. Passengers can use free Wi-Fi for up to 45 minutes after logging in. Paid Wi-Fi options are also available at affordable rates. However, only people with local numbers or roaming packs can use Wi-Fi, as it needs OTP verification.

The area around the airport is growing quickly because of its good transport network, increasing business opportunities, and high demand for development.

Aeroplane Hangars and MRO Facilities

The airport has large aircraft maintenance and repair facilities to support the heavy air traffic.

Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO): Kempegowda International Airport is growing into a major MRO hub. It has separate facilities run by different companies, including airline-owned hangars. IndiGo is building a big MRO centre that can handle heavy maintenance for its narrow-body planes and future wide-body aircraft. Air India also has MRO services for its fleet.

Cargo Village: The airport has a special Cargo Village with three terminals. It can handle over 500,000 tonnes of cargo every year. By 2030, this capacity is planned to increase to 1 million tonnes, making it one of the main logistics centres in South India.

Major Expansion and Future Plans

T2 Phase 2 Expansion: BIAL, the airport operator, is starting Phase 2 of Terminal 2’s expansion.
Goal: The aim is to increase the airport’s total passenger capacity to over 85 million per year in the coming years.
Timeline: Construction is likely to begin by late 2025 or early 2026 and finish around 2028.
Scope: The plan includes adding more floor space, new aircraft parking stands, and a walkway connecting Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
Long-Term Vision: The airport has a master plan to handle up to 100 million passengers and 1.5 million tonnes of cargo. It also includes space for a future Terminal 3 (T3) and an Automated People Mover (APM) to connect all terminals.
Metro Connectivity: The Namma Metro Yellow Line extension is being built to connect the airport directly to the city, making travel easier and faster.

Century Group prelaunch project is Century OneWorld Seraya.