AAI study team heads for HAL airport

AAI study team heads for HAL airport

Ashwini Phadnis

New Delhi, June 14 The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is sending a team to Bangalore early next week to find out whether HAL airport should be reopened for commercial flights or Devanahalli airport is capable of handling the growth in passenger traffic.

Official sources told Business Line that the delegation will arrive in Bangalore on Monday (June 16) and conduct the study over the next three days.

HAL airport has been closed to commercial aircraft operations since May 24, when the greenfield airport at Devanahalli opened. The airport was closed to fulfil the contractual agreement between the promoters of the project and the State Government.
Closure

The airport closure has led to demands from various quarters, including citizen groups and Parliamentarians, on the need for a big city like Bangalore to have two airports.

After a case was filed in court, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Karnataka government and the promoters were directed to take a relook at the closure of HAL airport.

Besides, there are differences between the promoters and the Centre on the number of passengers Devanahalli can actually handle.

While the promoters claim that the airport can handle 10.5 million and cater to at least 13 million passengers, this is contested by the authorities.
scientific study

“The team will conduct a scientific study on the passenger throughput at Devanahalli airport and submit a report to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

“This report will then be used to present the views of the Ministry to the court. Complaints are already being received about the new airport being overcrowded and airlines facing difficulties,” a senior government official said.

In April this year, following a meeting with the stakeholders, Minister for Civil Aviation Mr Praful Patel said one of the proposals being considered was whether the HAL airport could be kept open for shorthaul flights of 30-45 minutes with aircraft seating up to 80 passengers.