Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore

Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore, is 39 Km away from Prestige Highland Hideaway. It can be reached through SH-35 and takes about 1.5 hours, depending on the traffic conditions. The venture is closely connected to the airport, and BMTC buses, cabs, and metro are well-linked.

Kempegowda International Airport is the main airport for Bangalore. It is located near Devanahalli in North Bangalore and covers about 4,700 acres. The airport started operating in 2008. It is now one of the busiest airports in all of India. It was built to replace HAL Airport and handle many more passengers. The airport is named after Kempe Gowda I and is also Karnataka’s first airport to be powered by solar energy. The airport is 30 km away from the city and is well-connected using all major transport options.

Bangalore Airport Ownership

Kempegowda Airport (KIAB) is owned and run by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), and this company works under a public-private partnership.

Ownership shares are:

• Fairfax India Holdings (through Fairfax Financial Group, Canada) – 54% (They are the main owner).
• Siemens Project Ventures GmbH (Germany) – 20%.
• Airports Authority of India (AAI) – 13%.
• Karnataka State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) – 13%.

This means that the Fairfax Group holds the largest ownership. The AAI and KSIIDC represent the central and state governments.

Kempegowda International Airport Location Map

The airport map shows the address, the routes, and where the terminals are located. The official address is Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), located in Devanahalli, Bangalore, with the pin code 560300. The airport has two terminals that handle many domestic and international flights.

KIAB Terminals

Terminal 1 (T1): T1 is the airport’s first terminal and has been expanded several times over the years. It mostly handles domestic flights for airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet. It can manage up to 26.5 million passengers yearly. Its design helps passengers move quickly with less waiting time.

Terminal 2 (T2): T2 is known as the "Terminal in a Garden", opened in November 2022. It handles all international flights and, along with that, some domestic ones, such as Air India and Vistara. It is famous for its nature-inspired design with hanging gardens and indoor waterfalls. After Phase 1, the airport’s total passenger capacity increased to about 50 MPPA. It will cross 85 MPPA after Phase 2 is complete.

History of KIAB

HAL Airport was opened in 1942 for military use. Domestic flights began there in the 1970s. International flights started in 1990 when Air India launched the first route to Singapore. In 2000, Nepal Airlines was the first foreign airline to operate there. As the number of passengers grew, HAL's single runway could not handle all the traffic. In 1991, the search for a new airport location began, and the Devanahalli site was chosen. The final plan was approved in 1994. Construction started in July 2005 and was finished in 32 months. It was supposed to open in March 2008, but it officially opened on 24 May 2008 due to delays with Air Traffic Control (ATC).

How did KIAB get its name?

The airport was first called Bangalore International Airport. In 2009, a proposal to rename it after the city’s founder was not approved. A second proposal was passed in December 2011 and accepted in 2012. It was finally approved in July 2013. The official renaming of Kempegowda International Airport happened in December 2013. The airport is well connected to the city through buses, shuttles, taxis, car rentals, and app-based cabs. Passengers get free Wi-Fi for 45 minutes after they log in. Paid options are also available after that. Wi-Fi access needs a one-time password (OTP) for verification. This means only users with local phone numbers or roaming services can use it. The areas around the airport are developing quickly. This is due to excellent connectivity, growing business activity, and rising real estate demand. The airport also has large hangars and maintenance centres for aircraft.

Maintenance and Aeroplane Hangars

• MRO Facilities: KIA is becoming a major centre for aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul. IndiGo is building a large MRO facility for its narrow-body and upcoming wide-body aircraft. Air India also operates its own MRO unit there.
• Cargo Village: The airport has a Cargo Village with three cargo terminals. They currently handle over 500,000 tonnes each year. By 2030, the capacity will grow to 1 million tonnes. This will make it one of South India’s leading logistics centres.

The Recent News of KIAB

• T2 Phase 2 Expansion: BIAL is getting ready for Phase 2 of Terminal 2.
• Aim: To increase the total capacity to over 85 million passengers yearly.
• Timeline: Construction is expected to begin by late 2025 or early 2026.
• Completion: Expected around 2028.
• Includes: More floor area, extra aircraft parking bays, and a walkway that connects T1 and T2.
• Long-Term Growth:
  • The goal is to handle 100 million passengers per year.
  • The aim is to handle 1.5 million tonnes of cargo.
  • There are plans to build Terminal 3 (T3).
  • An Automated People Mover (APM) will be added to connect all the terminals.
• Metro Connectivity: The Namma Metro Yellow Line extension is currently under construction. It will soon provide direct metro access to the airport.

Major Highlights of Kempegowda Airport

• It has been operational since 2008, and is named after Bangalore’s founder.
• It is India’s 3rd busiest airport, after Delhi and Mumbai.
• It is ranked 29th among Asia’s busiest airports.
• It is Karnataka’s first fully solar-powered airport.
• It is spread across approximately 4,700 acres.
• It offers flight connections to all six continents, with direct flights to five of them.