INDIA. Bengaluru International Airport has reported a +12% growth in passenger traffic for 2011, based on forecast figures for December.
The airport handled 12.54 million passengers in the year, comprising 10.24 domestic and 2.3 million international passengers.
Annual air traffic movements grew by +7%, touching 116,851 movements.
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The airport at present handles more than 350 aircraft movements, servicing around 35,000 passengers per day. Since it opened in 2008 it has grown by +54% and continues to grow above the national average every year, according to Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).
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“No national airline network can be complete without including Bangalore“ |
Sanjay Reddy Managing Director Bangalore International Airport Limited |
Adding to the increasing passenger traffic, the airport has seen the introduction of 15 new international airlines in the past three years. These include six new airlines in 2011: passenger carriers Etihad Airways, Bangkok Airways and Tiger Airways; and cargo carriers Cathay Pacific Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo and Aerologic.
Commenting on the growth, BIAL Managing Director Sanjay Reddy said: “Bangalore has the third highest domestic traffic in the country after Mumbai and Delhi, which makes it the busiest in the South of India. No national airline network can be complete without including Bangalore. Aside from this, the city is the country’s IT and BT hub, has a high per capita income, higher percentage of high yield business class traffic than any other Indian airport, and is increasingly a MICE (Meetings Incentives Conventions and Exhibitions) destination due to its excellent weather all year round.
“In keeping with this rapidly growing passenger traffic to and from Bangalore, the currently under way terminal expansion will enhance capacity and operational performance.”
The Terminal 1 expansion has added more check-in facilities, expanded swing areas to enhance seating capacity in the gate area and added screening infrastructure at security check points.
Currently 35 airlines fly to Bangalore, connecting to over 55 destinations across the country and the world. New international connections in 2011 include Abu Dhabi as well as additional frequencies to Bangkok and Singapore, while new domestic connections include Indore, Imphal, Baghdogra, Raipur and Jorhat.
Newer routes are in the pipeline with more international airlines approaching the airport to start operations, BIAL revealed.
