On one hand, plans are being made to establish a second airport in Bengaluru, while on the other hand, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has approved a comprehensive master plan to revamp the HAL airport, sources claim. Currently the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport handles just 12 small aircraft daily, including those for defence forces, VIPs, and private firms. The airport operates 24/7 with a single runway and 30 parking spots. 

The HAL airport was Bangalore’s primary airport till 2008, but rising population and lack of space around HAL airport for further expansion led to the need for a new airport, and that’s how the seeds of Kempegowda Airport (BIAL) were sown. However now, to ease the rising pressure on BIAL, the authorities have decided to redevelop the existing airport. 

As per the new master plan devised by AAI, the airport will handle 4 million passengers annually and up to 2,500 during peak hours. In 2007, HAL airport served over a million passengers before commercial operations moved to Kempegowda International Airport.Let’s look in detail at the new master plan for the HAL airport.
Phase 1 of the upgrade will include

  • Expanding the terminal area from 21,885 sqm to 32,000 sqm
  • Replacing the existing terminal with a modern facility featuring separate 'Arrivals' and 'Departures' levels
  • Adding a multi-level car park for 500 vehicles
  • Widening the terminal road from two lanes to four lanes

The current runway, measuring 3,306 meters long and 61 meters wide, is one of India’s finest runways and hence will remain unchanged. 

The plans to revamp this airport are on the backdrop of an expiring agreement between HAL and BIAL, which restricts other airports within a 150 km range of BIAL. The agreement will expire in May 2033, thus paving the way for HAL to operate alongside Bengaluru's second airport. 

Eyeing the rising passenger traffic and incoming fleet of aircraft in the country, experts believe that the HAL airport could be a game-changer for the UDAAN regional connectivity scheme and link Bangalore to Tier II and Tier III cities in the country.