BIA zooms on growth path

Around 12% annual growth in passenger traffic and 7% growth in air traffic. This is what the year has been like for Bengaluru International Airport (BIA). By the end of this year, BIA touched 116,851 aircraft movements and 12.53 million passengers. The BIA has seen the introduction of 15 new international airlines in the last three years and six new airlines in 2011 alone. With Etihad Airways, Bangkok Airways, Tiger Airways starting passenger operations from the BIA, the number of airlines operating to/from BIA has gone up to 35. The 35 airlines that fly to BIA connect to over 55 destinations across the country and the world.

The airport currently handles more than 350 aircraft movements and serves around 35,000 passengers a day. This implies a growth of 54% from the numbers in the year 2008, when BIA started commercial operations. The BIA has recorded a one-time performance of 85 per cent this year. The highest record of OTP was in the month of March when the airport witnessed 91% departures on time. On time performance of departure flights is one of the key indicators of airport efficiency. Alongside the growth in passenger traffic, the cargo tonnage is increasing at a rate of 5 per cent annually. BIA has handled 224,000 metric tonnes in 2011. The growth is dominated by engineering goods, electrical and electronic goods and garments.