Bangalore skies may see heavy traffic

Bangalore skies may see heavy traffic
More Foreign, Domestic Airlines Set To Begin Operations
The Times of India

Bangalore: Bangalore will add on a fresh epithet this year — as the airline industry’s hottest destination.

Aero India 2005, the industry’s biggest show in this part of the globe in February, is just a teaser for the sector which is threatening to zoom right out of the radar screens with some pretty heavy air traffic.

Around 420 flights land and take off in Bangalore each week, of which 50 are international ones. Last year, Bangalore airport handled more than 3 million passengers. Delhi-Mumbai sector tops the traffic chart, followed by Bangalore-Mumbai and Bangalore-Delhi sectors. At least three new international airlines are scheduled to begin operations to Bangalore during the second half of 2005: British Airways will start with three flights a week; Air France wants to operate five; Emirates has requested for three to five flights a week.

Like India, Sri Lanka recently liberalised its domestic airline sector, and both Expo Air and Serendib have shown interest towards Bangalore. Low cost Bangalore-based Air Deccan, with its gradual induction of 30 ATR turboprops and 30 A320 Airbus aircraft to begin next month, is expected to add over 10 flights out of Bangalore alone.

“Bangalore is the hottest destination at the moment. Nowhere else will you find professionals in so many fields,’’ says Air Deccan MD Gapt G.R. Gopinath.

Four new low-cost airlines — Wadia group’s Go Airways, UB-backed Kingfisher Airlines, Mohan Meakins’ Indus Airways and Royal Airlines (erstwhile Modiluft) — are scheduled to be launched this year. Tourism commissioner Mahendra Jain says various destinations are being promoted for business travellers.

TAKING OFF

420 flights out of Bangalore every week, including 50 international ones; 3 million passengers pass through Bangalore airport.
After Delhi-Mumbai, Bangalore-Mumbai and Bangalore-Delhi are the heaviest sectors.
Air Deccan to add at least 10 flights out of Bangalore .
British Airways, Air France and Emirates likely to begin operations.
Sri Lanka’s domestic carriers Expo Air and Serendib keen on flying to Bangalore.
Four new low-cost carriers — Go Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Indus and Royal — to be launched.