BIAL 'check in' on March 30, 2008

BIAL 'check in' on March 30, 2008
By R Krishnakumar, DH News Service, Bangalore:
Sources in the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) said flights operating in Bangalore will arrive and depart from the new airport at Devanahalli with effect from 12 am on March 30, 2008.


Bangalore will get its new international airport on March 30, 2008. Sources in the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) said flights operating in Bangalore will arrive and depart from the new airport at Devanahalli with effect from 12 am on March 30, 2008.

This date is different from the earlier reported March 28, 2008. “March 28 was only a tentative date for the formal launch of the airport. March 30 was always the operational launch date we had in mind, because that’s the day when airline schedules are revised the world over,” said BIAL spokesperson.

Arriving flights on March 29 (after 8 pm) could land either in the present airport or the new one. “The decision on this will have to be taken by the carriers,” the spokesperson said.

BIAL started the airport’s construction in 2005, with April 2, 2008 as the scheduled opening date.

According to BIAL, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh might inaugurate the airport, but a confirmation from the Prime Minister’s Office in this regard was yet to be received.

Campaign begins

BIAL has also started a promotional campaign to announce the new launch date, and advertisements have been shown in the ongoing Bangalore Book Festival at the Palace Grounds.

“We want to orient Bangaloreans to March 30, 2008 as the day when the City will have its new international airport. Unconventional locations will be used to spread the message,” the spokesperson said.

Runway testing

The airport’s four-km runway will be tested for operational conditions in January. BIAL has already installed approach lights and flash lights on the eastern and western sides of the runway, and around 85 per cent of construction work at the airport is complete.

The airport occupies 4,000 acres and can accommodate 10 million passengers per annum. Moreover, the airport will be connected to the City through the National Highway 7, on which work is still in progress.

*Operational launch on March 30, 2008

*Airlines to decide arrival flights on March 29

*Prime Minister expected to
inaugurate airport ahead of March 30

*Runway commissioning by January, 2008