Makeover in the air for B'lore airport

Makeover in the air for B'lore airport
CNN-IBN


Bangalore: Chaos, confusion and long queues - that's Bangalore airport. And it just gets worse during peak hours because there are more passengers and flights than the airport can handle.

The Bangalore airport handles 120 domestic and 20 international flights with nearly two lakh footfalls everyday.

However, in a take-off of a positive kind for the aviation sector, flying in and out of India’s IT hub will soon become smoother.

With aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) modernising its air traffic control systems with a soon-to-be-installed Airport Surveillance Radar, the airport will be able to handle the two lakh travelers it does everyday with much ease.

HAL, that owns and operates the airport, has nearly doubled the number of its air traffic controllers and renovated the terminal building.

The major renovation plan will allow the airport to handle 30 flights an hour – a nearly 50 per cent spike from what it now handles.

"The last two aircrafts, which came has been parked in HAL airport. We have given them upfront money for building our parking spaces in HAL airport. We are expanding in Bangalore and Bangalore is one of the major cities in the country. There is a lot of potential," says the Chief Financial Officer, Air Deccan, Mohan Kumar.

The upgradation plan was conceptualised in April 2006 when things came to a head and HAL had to ask the Airport Authority of India to stop issuing licences for new flights.

So, while the traffic was growing, the airport had to actually refuse business. HAL charges Rs 20,000 per landing or take-off for domestic flights and Rs 70,000 for international flights.

Now with the modernisation of the airport, both the HAL and the airlines are hoping for a boom and passengers hoping for a smooth ride.