Retain old airport: HAL

Retain old airport: HAL
Bangalore, DHNS:
S R Iyer, DGM (Aerodrome Operations), HAL on Monday said the answer to BIAL from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on the closure of the existing airport is an emphatic 'No'.


Speaking at a seminar on ‘Should HAL airport be closed’ he said, “We have come a long way from the beginning of the HAL airport in the 1940, when the Royal Airforce started its operations from there. With 150 passenger flights making 380 movements a day, we have achieved a 47 per cent growth in 2007. There is room for both.

We are equipped with the modern radar processing systems and adequate navigational support.

Should Bangalore have a second airport? ‘Yes,’ Mr Iyer said. Saying that BIAL has just 35 per cent more international flight capacity than HAL, he stressed that aviation demand in the coming years could see about 5,000 slots a day in Bangalore.

“Mumbai airport already has 630 movements. The runway there is just not equipped to take additional flights.

Until and unless existing airports expand, slots are hard to come by. Going by these projections, BIAL will be saturated in less than four years. The single runway operation at BIAL will see trouble during the first year itself,” he added.

More traffic

Mr Iyer also said the transition phase from HAL to BIAL is bound to throw more than 40,000 vehicles on to roads.

“Over 500 tonnes of cargo a day will have to be moved out. It will only add to existing chaos. What we suggest is a minimum use of HAL airport without affecting the financial returns of BIAL.” He also said that given an option, most domestic carriers will like to continue operations from HAL.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr V P Baligar, Principal secretary, Infrastructure, Commerce and Industry said implementing PPP (Public-Private-Partnership) projects have been a big challenge in the country.

“The main concern of the government is to see that we need to have a nice airport. Investor confidence must not be affected. Foreign investment will be affected. Lenders will stop lending if BIAL is affected. An elevated road between Electronic City to Yelahanka is in the pipeline.”

Mr Baligar added that Bangalore does need two international airports in the coming years as air traffic is bound to cross 40 million passengers. On the questions raised that the user development fee charged by BIAL is higher, he said the government has requested for a reduction,” he said.

Industry view

Mr Davesh Agarwal of BCIC (Bangalore Chamber of Commerce and Industry) opined that the Bangalore airport needs an augment, not replacement.

“Bangalore epitomises airline traffic. The issue of connectivity is an effort, too little-too late. BIAL has not been transparent enough as there is not much clarity on the cargo front. The industry is worried about this. We need two airports. BIAL seems to have underestimated the demand of Bangalore,” he said.

On the options for HAL, Mr Agarwal said that as per market driven forces, domestic flights could be retained. With the opening of BIAL you will have airlines reducing flights. Passengers may shun BIAL because of its distance.

They seem to be in a race against time. There is no clarity on issues such as cargo/customs. The day of its opening, will also see the single biggest transaction for the industry. Can BIAL cope with it,” he questioned.

Dr A Ravindra, former chief secretary, who was the moderator concluded by saying that a consensus among all stake holders is needed to chalk out the crucial issues before the new airport opens.”