KIA passenger numbers up by 12.9% in 2017, air traffic by 4.3%

Passenger numbers at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) grew by 12.9% in 2017 (January to December). Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) during the year recorded a 4.3% growth over the previous year, according to traffic figures released by Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) on Tuesday.

As already reported by Deccan Herald, the airport crossed 25 million passengers for the first time in a calendar year. By the end of 2017, this figure stood at 25.04 million. A total of 43 scheduled airlines now connect KIA with 62 destinations nationally and globally.

The airport also witnessed the highest ever passenger movement (87,815 travellers) on December 23, 2017. The same day recorded 603 ATMs - the highest ever for KIA. During the year, the airport handled 3,39,461 tonnes of cargo.

While domestic passenger numbers grew by 14.5% (21.31 million), the number of international travellers passing through KIA went up by 4.7% (3.73 million) in 2017. KIA averaged 505 ATMs per day in 2017, with a total of 1,84,348 ATMs during 2017 against 1,76,797 ATMs registered in 2016. ATMs grew by 4.3% over the previous year, with domestic ATMs increasing by 4.6% and international by 2.1%.

International cargo handling increased by 10.4% over the previous year while domestic cargo handling increased by 4.2%. The cargo business at KIA accounts for 11% of the state's GDP. The airport also accounts for highest exports of roses and mangos in their peak season from South India.

HeliTaxi services in Mid-Feb

A helicopter shuttle service, HeliTaxi, announced in August 2017 by Civil Aviation Minister Jayant Sinha, will take to the skies around the middle of February 2018, the BIAL release said.

The service, designed as a fully-integrated, seamless airport transfer experience, is being offered in partnership with the Kochi-based Thumby Aviation Pvt Ltd.

Second runway, terminal

Construction work on the second runway will begin in mid-2018. It is scheduled to be operational by 2019. The second terminal is set for commissioning by 2021. US architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has designed T2, while Turner International will be the PMC for the project.

T2 is to be built in two phases; the first phase catering to 25 million passengers annually (MPA) and the second phase adding another 20 million passenger capacity. On completion of both phases of T2, the airport's capacity will touch 65 million.

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