Roberta Aguirre
The new Bangalore airport, officially named Kempegowda International Airport, was built by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), a public-private consortium. Construction began in July 2005 on a site 30km from downtown Bangalore in the suburb of Devanahalli. The airport was designed to replace the old HAL Airport, which had become increasingly congested due to Bangalore's rapid economic expansion. The new airport officially opened in May 2008 and has since become the third-busiest airport in India.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Kempegowda International Airport |
| Former Name | Bangalore International Airport |
| Location | Devanahalli, 30-40 km from the city of Bengaluru, India |
| Year of Construction | 2005-2008 |
| Year of Operation | 2008 |
| Owner | Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) |
| Operator | Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) |
| Terminals | 2 |
| Area | 16 sq km (6.2 sq mi) |
| Capacity | 25 million passengers per annum (initially), 31.91 million passengers in 2022-23 |
| Ranking | Third-busiest airport in India, 27th busiest airport in Asia, 54th busiest airport in the world |
| Architect | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Grant Associates |
| Construction Company | Larsen & Toubro |
| Cost | ₹5,000 crore (US$590 million) |
| Area Covered by Terminal 2 | 255,000-255,661 sq m |
| Area Covered by Cargo Village | 11 acres |
| Investment in Cargo Village | $2.5 million (INR 120 million) |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The new Bangalore airport is called Kempegowda International Airport
The construction of Kempegowda International Airport began in July 2005 and the airport became operational in May 2008. The original name of the airport was "Bengaluru International Airport". In December 2011, the State Government passed a resolution to rename the airport after the founder of the city, Kempe Gowda I. The proposal was formally approved in July 2013 and the airport was officially renamed "Kempegowda International Airport" on 14 December 2013.
The airport has two terminals and two runways in operation. The first phase of expansion was launched in June 2011 and was completed in December 2013, doubling the size of the passenger terminal. The second phase of expansion, which included the construction of a second runway and a second passenger terminal, was completed in 2022. The airport is now able to handle 55-60 million passengers per year.
Kempegowda International Airport is one of the fastest-growing airports in the world. It is the third-busiest airport in India and the 27th busiest airport in Asia as of 2024. The airport is also known for being Karnataka's first fully solar-powered airport.
ATMs at Nashville Airport: Locations and Availability
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It was designed by renowned architects SOM and Grant Associates
The new Bangalore Airport, officially known as Kempegowda International Airport, was designed by the renowned architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and Grant Associates. The airport, which is located on the outskirts of Bengaluru, in the village of Devanahalli, about 35 kilometres (22 miles) from the city centre, began its operations in May 2008.
The airport is owned and operated by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), a public-private consortium, and is the first greenfield airport in India to be owned and operated by the private sector. The construction of the airport was a massive undertaking, with the first phase of the project conceived in 1993 and construction finally beginning in July 2005. The plans had to be altered several times to accommodate the increasing traffic projections, with the redesign including an increase in the size of the passenger terminal building, the number of aircraft stands, taxiways, and passenger boarding bridges.
The second terminal of Kempegowda International Airport, designed by SOM and Grant Associates, is a stunning example of biophilic design, with 14-metre-tall built-up mounds resembling the surrounding mountains and landscapes of rural Bangalore. The terminal is constructed in two phases, with the first phase covering an area of 255,645 square meters and accommodating up to 25 million passengers per year. The design concept complements the "City of Gardens" idea, reflecting Bangalore's reputation for its beautiful landscapes and greenery.
The airport's cargo village, spread over 11 acres of land, also showcases the designers' attention to detail. Completed in January 2009, the cargo village facilitates speedy clearances of import and export consignments, strengthening commerce and trade in Bengaluru. The open-access model of the airport further demonstrates the designers' forward-thinking, allowing all qualified fuel suppliers to utilise the facility and enabling airlines to secure competitive fuel prices.
Thailand's Main Airport: A Comprehensive Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) built the airport
Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) built the new Bangalore airport, officially known as Kempegowda International Airport. The airport construction began in July 2005, and the airport became operational in May 2008. BIAL is a private company that signed a concession agreement with the state and national governments to build a new, much larger airport. The new airport was built to replace the old HAL Airport, which was becoming increasingly congested.
BIAL designed, owns and operates the first greenfield private sector-owned and operated airport in India. The airport is located on the outskirts of Bengaluru, in the village of Devanahalli, about 30-40 km from the city centre. The airport is named after Kempe Gowda I, the founder of Bengaluru.
The development of the new airport involved a public-private partnership, with BIAL collaborating with government agencies and airport authorities. The project faced challenges due to the need to accommodate increasing passenger traffic, which led to last-minute design changes and alterations to the original plans.
BIAL predicted that by 2028, the airport's annual passenger traffic would reach 60 million. The airport has become a crucial hub for regional Indian airlines and has contributed significantly to the city's commercial and tourist industries. BIAL continues to invest in the airport's expansion and improvement, ensuring that it can meet the growing demand for air travel in the region.
Kissimmee, Florida: Airport Accessibility and Travel Options
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$50.95 $118.95
Construction began in July 2005
Construction of the Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore, India, began in July 2005. The airport is located on the outskirts of the city, about 35-40km north of Bengaluru, in the suburb of Devanahalli. The project was undertaken by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), a public-private consortium, and was initially expected to be completed in 32 months.
BIAL awarded a $75 million contract to Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group and Siemens India for the job of equipping the airport with technical systems. This included the supply, engineering, and installation of airfield lighting, IT and communication systems, baggage handling systems, power supply, and building services automation. The project's first phase, conceived in 1993, was delayed due to ongoing negotiations between the government and airport authorities.
The original airport serving Bengaluru was the HAL Airport, located 5km from the city centre. It was established in 1942 for military and defence purposes and began domestic operations in the late 1970s. However, by the 1990s, the airport was experiencing rapid growth in parallel with Bangalore's economic expansion, leading to congestion and delays. The high volume of traffic placed a strain on the HAL airport, with congested terminals and limited parking spaces.
In May 1999, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) signed a memorandum of understanding for the new airport project, agreeing to a public-private partnership. In January 2001, the State Government formed BIAL as a special purpose entity, and the concession agreement for the new airport was signed in July 2004. The new airport was intended to accommodate 3.5 million passengers annually, but redesigns were made to handle up to 12 million passengers due to the rapid increase in air traffic.
Hagerstown MD: Which Airport for Domestic Flights?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The airport opened in May 2008
The new Bangalore airport, officially known as Kempegowda International Airport, opened on 24 May 2008. It was built to replace the HAL Airport, which had become congested and busy, with overflowing parking lots and delays due to a limited number of parking stands for aircraft.
The new airport is located in Devanahalli, about 35 kilometres north of Bengaluru. It is owned and operated by Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), a public-private consortium. Construction on the airport began in July 2005, with the project's first phase getting underway following lengthy negotiations with the government and airport authorities. The airport was originally intended to accommodate 3.5 million passengers a year, but redesigns and last-minute changes increased its capacity to 12 million passengers annually.
The opening of the airport was met with some criticism and controversy due to the closure of the HAL Airport. In March 2008, employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) went on strike, fearing job losses. There were also concerns about poor connectivity between the new airport and the city, with a hearing held at the Karnataka High Court on this issue just days before the inauguration. Despite these challenges, the state government decided to proceed with the inauguration, and the first commercial flight landed at the new airport on the night of 23 May 2008, a day before the official opening.
In the years since its opening, the Kempegowda International Airport has become one of the busiest airports in India and Asia, celebrating 15 years of operations in May 2023. It handled 31.91 million passengers in the year ending March 2023, including 28.12 million domestic and 3.78 million international travellers.
Delhi's Airport Count: How Many Serve the Capital?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The new Bangalore airport, officially known as Kempegowda International Airport, was built by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).
The previous airport, HAL Airport, was struggling to cope with the exponential rise in air traffic. By 2007, over 10 million passengers were passing through HAL Airport's terminals annually, causing congested terminals and overflowing parking lots.
Construction on the new airport began in July 2005, and it opened in May 2008.
The airport is located about 35km north of Bangalore in the suburb of Devanahalli. It was designed by renowned architects SOM and Grant Associates, with the concept of complementing the "City of Gardens Bangalore". The airport features a cargo village, a Terminal Boulevard access road, and is the first in India to operate under an open-access model for fuel suppliers.
