<p>Notwithstanding the biting winter chill that has caused several delays at the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA), the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) will greet the new year with hopes that it will bring in more cheer.<br /><br /></p>.<p>For such was the year that has gone by. The BIA’s annual passenger traffic growth has gone up by 12 per cent this year as it attracted six new airlines, the highest compared to any other Indian airport.<br /><br />Sanjay Reddy, BIAL Managing Director, said: “No national airline network can be complete without including Bangalore.” Annual air traffic movements grew by seven per cent, touching 1,16,851 movements and 12.53 million passengers for 2011 and the airport at present handles over 350 aircraft movements, servicing around 35,000 passengers per day.<br /><br />“Since 2008 (the year it opened), it has grown by 54 per cent and continues to grow above the national average every year,” Reddy said, adding that besides this, the airport has seen the introduction of 15 new international airlines in the last three years with six of them in 2011 alone.<br /><br />“Bangalore has the third highest domestic traffic in the country after Mumbai and Delhi, which makes it the busiest in the South of India. In keeping with this rapidly growing passenger traffic, the terminal expansion currently underway will enhance capacity and operational performance,” Reddy pointed out.<br /><br />Currently, 35 airlines fly to and from BIA connecting over 55 destinations across the country and the world. <br /><br />“...Newer routes are in the pipeline with more international airlines approaching the Bengaluru International Airport to start the operations,” Reddy said. <br /><br />Besides, the airport’s annual cargo tonnage is growing at a rate of five per cent. The BIA handled 2.24 lakh metric tons of cargo in 2011. <br /><br />The growth, BIAL said, is dominated by engineering goods, electrical and electronic goods and garments, while there is also a considerable amount of pharmaceutical and perishables which are handled at the airport. <br /><br />“From an industry perspective, imports have also grown tremendously due to a high demand in electrical and electronic goods and machinery and spare parts,” airport authorities said.<br /><br />In 2011, airport performance remained consistent displaying a steady improvement. On time performance of departure flights is one of the key indicators of airports efficiency and that averaged 85 per cent for the year touching a record of 91 per cent in the month of March 2011.<br />DH News Service<br /><br />New Airlines in 2011<br /><br />Passenger: <br /><br />* Etihad Airways<br />* Bangkok Airways<br />* Tiger Airways<br /><br />Cargo: <br /><br />* Cathay Pacific <br />* Qatar Airways <br />* Aerologic<br /><br /><br />New connections in 2011<br /><br />Domestic: <br /><br />* Indore n Imphal<br />* Baghdogra n Raipur<br />* Jorhat<br /><br />International: <br /><br />* Abu Dhabi<br />* Additional frequencies to Bangkok and Singapore<br /><br /><br />New introductions during T1 expansion<br /><br />* Incentivised the use of additional check-in facilities i.e.<br /> CUSS at the terminal and Express Check-in at the kerb<br />* Expanded swing areas to enhance seating capacity in the gate area<br />* Added screening infrastructure at security check points<br />* Proposed additional CISF manpower to GOI, approval <br /> expected shortly<br /><br />Passenger traffic<br /><br />Passengers 2010 2011* <br />Domestic 9.07m 10.24 m<br />International 2.16 m 2.30 m<br />Total 11.23 m 12.54 m<br />* December figures are forecasted<br /><br /></p>
<p>Notwithstanding the biting winter chill that has caused several delays at the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA), the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) will greet the new year with hopes that it will bring in more cheer.<br /><br /></p>.<p>For such was the year that has gone by. The BIA’s annual passenger traffic growth has gone up by 12 per cent this year as it attracted six new airlines, the highest compared to any other Indian airport.<br /><br />Sanjay Reddy, BIAL Managing Director, said: “No national airline network can be complete without including Bangalore.” Annual air traffic movements grew by seven per cent, touching 1,16,851 movements and 12.53 million passengers for 2011 and the airport at present handles over 350 aircraft movements, servicing around 35,000 passengers per day.<br /><br />“Since 2008 (the year it opened), it has grown by 54 per cent and continues to grow above the national average every year,” Reddy said, adding that besides this, the airport has seen the introduction of 15 new international airlines in the last three years with six of them in 2011 alone.<br /><br />“Bangalore has the third highest domestic traffic in the country after Mumbai and Delhi, which makes it the busiest in the South of India. In keeping with this rapidly growing passenger traffic, the terminal expansion currently underway will enhance capacity and operational performance,” Reddy pointed out.<br /><br />Currently, 35 airlines fly to and from BIA connecting over 55 destinations across the country and the world. <br /><br />“...Newer routes are in the pipeline with more international airlines approaching the Bengaluru International Airport to start the operations,” Reddy said. <br /><br />Besides, the airport’s annual cargo tonnage is growing at a rate of five per cent. The BIA handled 2.24 lakh metric tons of cargo in 2011. <br /><br />The growth, BIAL said, is dominated by engineering goods, electrical and electronic goods and garments, while there is also a considerable amount of pharmaceutical and perishables which are handled at the airport. <br /><br />“From an industry perspective, imports have also grown tremendously due to a high demand in electrical and electronic goods and machinery and spare parts,” airport authorities said.<br /><br />In 2011, airport performance remained consistent displaying a steady improvement. On time performance of departure flights is one of the key indicators of airports efficiency and that averaged 85 per cent for the year touching a record of 91 per cent in the month of March 2011.<br />DH News Service<br /><br />New Airlines in 2011<br /><br />Passenger: <br /><br />* Etihad Airways<br />* Bangkok Airways<br />* Tiger Airways<br /><br />Cargo: <br /><br />* Cathay Pacific <br />* Qatar Airways <br />* Aerologic<br /><br /><br />New connections in 2011<br /><br />Domestic: <br /><br />* Indore n Imphal<br />* Baghdogra n Raipur<br />* Jorhat<br /><br />International: <br /><br />* Abu Dhabi<br />* Additional frequencies to Bangkok and Singapore<br /><br /><br />New introductions during T1 expansion<br /><br />* Incentivised the use of additional check-in facilities i.e.<br /> CUSS at the terminal and Express Check-in at the kerb<br />* Expanded swing areas to enhance seating capacity in the gate area<br />* Added screening infrastructure at security check points<br />* Proposed additional CISF manpower to GOI, approval <br /> expected shortly<br /><br />Passenger traffic<br /><br />Passengers 2010 2011* <br />Domestic 9.07m 10.24 m<br />International 2.16 m 2.30 m<br />Total 11.23 m 12.54 m<br />* December figures are forecasted<br /><br /></p>
