HAL airport to be grounded on May 23

HAL airport to be grounded on May 23

By Hemanth C S,DH News Service ,Bangalore:



The HAL airport will cease operating from May 23, the day on which the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) is scheduled to be formally inaugurated

According to government sources, the Devanahalli airport was to be inaugurated by May-end following clearance from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry on Monday. But the airport promoters are said to have zeroed in on May 23 for the formal inauguration of the much delayed greenfield airport as well as the commencement of flight operations.

“Flight operations will commence at the BIA on the very day or the latest by May 24 midnight,” sources told Deccan Herald.

The HAL airport, which is being used for commercial flight operations for the last two-and-a-half decades, will slam its shutters on May 23 itself.

The sources said flight movement in and out of Bangalore will be directed to the BIA from 8 pm onwards or after May 24 midnight.









“Flight operations at the HAL airport will end on the day the Devanahalli airport is inaugurated as per the Concessional Agreement signed between the government and the Bengaluru International Airport Limited,” the sources added.

BIA’s opening was postponed twice earlier this year. The airport was scheduled to be inaugurated on March 28 and commence flight operations from April 1 onwards. But, the opening was put off to May 11 after the regulatory authorities found constraints in the Air Traffic Control tower.

The opening, however, could not keep up with the second date as well.