Bengaluru's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Airport, which once served as the city's primary aviation hub before Kempegowda International Airport's launch in 2008, is slated for a comprehensive transformation. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has approved a strategic master plan to revitalise the facility, signalling its potential return to passenger services.
Currently dedicated to defence aircraft, VIP flights, and private jets, the airport handles approximately 12 small aircraft daily. Its operational single runway, stretching 3,306 meters long and 61 meters wide, enables round-the-clock activities and offers 30 aircraft parking spots.
The ambitious redevelopment strategy targets a passenger capacity of 40 lakh annually by 2047, with infrastructure to accommodate 2,500 passengers during peak hours. Phase 1 of the plan involves expanding the airport's footprint from 21,885 square meters to 32,000 square meters. The project includes replacing the existing terminal with a modern facility featuring segregated Arrivals and Departures levels, constructing a multi-level parking facility for 500 vehicles, and upgrading the terminal's access road from two to four lanes.
Prior to suspending commercial operations in 2008, HAL Airport managed over 10 lakh passengers in the 2007-08 fiscal year. The airport's exclusivity agreement with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which currently restricts other airports within a 150-km radius, is set to expire on May 24, 2033. Upon expiration, HAL Airport is poised to resume civilian operations, effectively becoming Bengaluru's second airport.
Aviation authorities view the revamped HAL Airport as a critical component in implementing the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAAN), potentially facilitating enhanced connectivity to nearby cities and alleviating passenger traffic pressures on Kempegowda International Airport.