WHO DARES FLY TODAY?

WHO DARES FLY TODAY?
BT speaks to travellers flying out of BIA on Day One of its operations
PRATHIBHA JOY



AT 00:01 this morning, Airbus 320 IC 957, bound for Singapore, took off from Bangalore. What made this flight special was that the national carrier was the first to operate from the city’s greenfield airport, the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA).
Though he’s not on the first flight out of Bangalore, Bijou Kurien, president and chief executive of a retail firm, was elated when he spoke to BT a day before his departure. “I was hoping to be able to fly out of BIA. I’m excited about being among the first to avail of BIA services and believe that with the logistics involved, this airport will be a lot more organised. I am only worried about the time it’s going to take me to get to the airport. Given the background of the promoters and the agencies involved in operating this airport, I do not foresee any glitches with the operational facilities,” said Bijou, who took the 00:30 am Thai Airways flight this morning.
Brand domain specialist Harish Bijoor believes it’s a coincidence that he’s among the first to experience BIA. Harish is all set to take a 9.50 am flight to Delhi. “Earlier I used to tele check-in and leave home only by 9.20 to get to the old airport. For my trip to BIA, I have asked the cab to be at my place at 6.30 am. I am trying to adjust to a new lifestyle,” said Harish, sure that he was adequately prepared for his first trip to and out of BIA.
Travel time to the airport was the worrying factor for actor Ramesh Aravind too, as he prepared to take the first flight to Mumbai on May 24. “I live in south Bangalore and have a long commute ahead of me. But I’m optimistic that the airport won’t be a disappointment,” he said.
And though he isn’t happy about having to fly out of BIA and that too on Day One, work forces Vishal Bali, the CEO of a hospital network, to take the evening flight to Mumbai today. “Our lives are going to change and we have to live with it. The commute to the airport is my only worry. With multiple agencies involved in the new airport, I don’t foresee any safety issues for the passengers. There may be technical glitches in checkin and so on but those are teething problems and will be soon overcome,” he says.
Know your way
about BIA
Once you arrive at the airport, enter the check-in hall, which is common for domestic and international passengers. There are 53 check-in counters and 18 self check-in machines. There is no need to screen your bag before check-in. Once you’ve checked in, follow the domestic and
international departure gate signs on the first floor and proceed through security. Post security check, you have on offer a wide array of retail and food and beverage. There are also comfortable lounges for first and business class passengers. Free wi-fi Internet is also available.