Bangalore Airport pushes international expansion

Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport (BKIA) plans to increase international services from across the region, following the groundbreaking of a second runway in August.

As of Sept. 1, the airport added new schedules from Kuwait Airways, Thai AirAsia and Nepal Airlines, increasing passenger throughput from its current level of 15.4 million passengers per year to 20 million by 2020.

When the new runway and terminal are completed in 2020, the airport will be able to handle 50 million passengers per year, airport managers say.

Kuwait Airways will offer a 3X-weekly service from Kuwait City using Airbus A320 aircraft. In addition, Thai AirAsia will operate out of Bankok’s Don Mueang airport with a 5X-weekly A320 schedule, and Nepal Airlines will fly A320 3X-weekly services from Kathmandu to Bangalore.

The airport expanded its T1 facilities in 2014, increasing capacity 50%. However, the proportion of domestic travelers into BKIA still far outweighs international, according to management figures.

Bangalore Airport MD Sanjay Reddy said the airport handled 15.4 million passengers in 2014-15, with an average of just under 49,000 passengers per day in June this year. Of these, 86.5% were domestic and 13.5% were international passengers.

The airport serves 29 international and 10 domestic carriers, but is keen to push its expanded capability with an increase in overseas services.