As the debate on retaining the existing HAL airport after the launch of Devanahalli international airport continues, the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Bangalore International Airport Authority (BIAL) have reiterated that contractual obligations bar a second airport in the IT hub.
The issue was debated intensely at the three-day conference on civil aviation organised by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation as minister Praful Patel triggered it stating that even though the governments have to honour the agreement, a way out should be explored on giving a second airport for the technology centre.
On Wednesday, while two aviation honchos – Vijay Mallya and Capt G R Gopinath – demanded that the HAL airport be retained, ministry secretary Ashok Chawla and BIAL chief commercial officer Stephen Widrig asserted it cannot happen. Chawla said the contractual agreement which provided for the closure of HAL airport once the Devanahalli airport began operations, cannot be abrogated unilaterally.
“If it has to be worked out, then it has to be only with the active involvement of the airport management,” he added.
Faced with similar questions on a session on airports, Widrig said continuing the HAL airport was out of question and added such a step would not help anyone.
“How can you have two airports that are miles away? Suppose a passenger wants to fly to Bangalore and has to take an international flight immediately, will it be possible if he lands at HAL airport? In any case, the concessionaire agreement expressly negates the second airport. What the people and airlines need is one integrated airport with seamless connections,” Mr Chawla added.
The BIAL official noted that the Bangalore, which is the third largest domestic and fourth international airport in terms of traffic handled in the country, accounted for 37 per cent of the low fare airlines’ market share. With an annual growth at 44 per cent in 2006-07, Bangalore is set for newer goals when the new airport opens in April 2008.
At present, the BIAL is not looking at a separate terminal for budget airlines but may do so in the second phase of expansion, he added.
Answering a question, he admitted that having a defence air base at Yelahanka nearby may contrive the international airport operations but added that airport authorities would coordinate with the defence ministry in this regard.
The consortium, consisting of Zurich Airport, Siemens and L&T, hold 74 per cent equity in BIAL with the rest being equally held by the Karnataka government and the Union government.