Bangalore: To operate HAL airport or not?

Bangalore, June 10: Aviation industry aver that the situation warrants two airports in Bangalore, at least till the traffic and facilities are streamlined in the new airport and connectivity issue is addressed. Just 10 months ahead of the new airport, this could be a belated move.But it's still worth a shot, according to passengers and experts.

Eight million passengers a year. At an airport around 35 km from the City that's already battling burgeoning traffic and poor road connectivity. The existing HAL airport is set to close down once the new greenfield airport at Devanahalli starts operations in April 2008. More importantly, with no transition period.

Warwick Brady, Chief Operating Officer, Air Deccan, says the airline is for retaining the existing HAL airport for short-haul flights. "With the skyrocketing demand for air travel, the Devanahalli airport operators will more than achieve the projected growth in passenger traffic by 2010. So there is no reason for the HAL airport to be considered a competition," he says.

According to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry's agreement with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), no new or existing airport will be permitted to operate as a domestic or international airport within 150 kilometres. The Government is also "committed to equal treatment and non-discrimination of all international airports and to renew the bilateral agreement constantly."

"HAL had never wanted to close its airport. But the then government decided to go by the demand of the consortium. BIAL was worried that HAL would compete with it and take away its business," points out C G Krishnadas Nair, former Chairman, HAL.
HAL officials, however, have also maintained that the airport is not top priority in the company's scheme and that it's pursuing its own plans, including Maintenance, Repair and Overhauling (MRO) facilities with global players.

A group of domestic carriers had last year conveyed to the State Government the need to retain civil operations in HAL airport.
It was also pointed out that short routes within the State would be hit, when operated from an international airport that has its own stringent security system.

"Road commuters will be the first to feel the heat. It doesn't make sense to travel for two hours to the airport to catch a 30-minute flight," says Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry President R C Purohit. He adds that some flights should be retained at the HAL airport, at least till a rail link or a dedicated road is established between the City and Devanahalli.

Here are some of the facts about HAL Airport:
- The airport is a Government of India aerodrome
- Third busiest airport, after Mumbai and Delhi
- Handles 300 movements everyday
- Handles six million passengers every year
- 266 per cent increase in traffic volume since 2000
- 11 international and 10 domestic carriers operate from here
- Civil aircraft movement accounts for 80 per cent of traffic

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