Air India will develop a connecting hub at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), which is reporting record passenger numbers for its just-completed financial year.
The airline has signed an agreement with BLR “to develop Bengaluru as a premier aviation hub for southern India, with an aim to boost air travel connectivity to and from India over the next few years,” the airport says in a statement.
CEO Campbell Wilson told Aviation Week Network last year that Air India was looking to build a third connecting hub—after New Delhi and Mumbai—in the south of India. Other airlines owned by Air India parent Tata Group, AIX Connect and Vistara, will also grow operations at BLR, according to the airport.
“The agreement marks a significant milestone in the Indian aviation industry. Air India [and BLR] will collaborate to enhance international connectivity, operational efficiency and passenger experience over the next five years,” BLR says.
The airport adds Air India and Tata Group carriers will develop “an enhanced network” from BLR, and Air India will establish a dedicated domestic lounge for premium passengers. The airline has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the state of Karnataka, of which Bengaluru is the capital, to build a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at BLR.
The airport says the plan to establish an MRO facility “underscores Air India's commitment to strengthening its presence in Bengaluru and, over time, expanding its global footprint to meet the growing demand for direct long-haul routes originating from southern India.”
The MRO facility is “projected to generate over 1,200 new job opportunities for highly skilled individuals in the state,” according to BLR.
After signing the agreement with BLR, Wilson said Bengaluru “is highly attractive as an origin and destination market as well as a connecting hub … [Air India will be] developing a greater presence at the airport, expanding air connectivity, as well as building a major MRO center.”
BLR reports it is currently connected to 108 destinations, including 80 in the domestic market and 28 internationally. According to the airport, the top domestic destination is New Delhi, followed by Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. Internationally, the top destination is Dubai, followed by Singapore, Qatari capital city Doha, Bangkok and Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, BLR handled more passengers in its financial year that ended March 31 than in any year in the airport’s history. For the 12 months, BLR handled 37.6 million passengers, up 18% year over year. Domestic traffic comprised 32.9 million passengers, up 17% over the prior financial year, while international traffic rose 23% to 4.7 million passengers.
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