Kempe Gowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru commenced operations on the new South runway with the take-off of the first flight on the 4-km long and 45-metre wide airstrip. This makes the Bengaluru international airport the first in the country to operate independent parallel runways, enabling aircraft to land or take-off simultaneously on both runways.
Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) began the construction work of the south runway in mid-2018, with an operation start date set to December 5th 2019. However, due to backlog in paperwork and clearance, the launch was completed on Monday 9th December 2019.
"It is a historic day for us at #Blrairport, as we commenced operations on the new runway. This will further bolster our vision to transform Blr Airport into the new gateway to India", says @HariMarar, CEO and Managing Director, BIAL. pic.twitter.com/nJkxRlO5ZP
— BLR Airport (@BLRAirport) December 6, 2019
Hari Marar, MD & CEO, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), operator of the BLR Airport stated that the first runways opened 11 years ago, and became a linchpin for the region’s economic development during the last decade. The aviation industry in India all set for exponential growth; two operational runways will provide the trust required to cater to this demand and further bolster growth of Karnataka and India.
Safety is the topmost priority of BIAL at the new South runway.
Hari Marar further added, “it is a historic day for us at BLR airport as we commenced operations on the new runway”.
The release by the KIA stated that the south runway will begin with limited operations and gradually scale up. The runway will initially have CAT I certification and as operations stabilities, will progressively manage a CAT III B operations, enabling landing and take off in extremely low visibility conditions. “With safety being the top-most priority, BIAL has built an aircraft rescue and Fire Fighting Station equipped with advanced, state-of-the-art crash fire tenders to cater to any fire-related emergencies on the south runway”, also read the statement.
Being one of the first Greenfield airport in India to be built as a private-public partnership, Marar took this occasion to state that “the opening of this key infrastructure is the outcome of phenomenal collaboration amongst various stakeholders and implementation of processes and procedures developed through advanced simulations and assessments”. Concluding on the fact how the new runway will further bolster their vision to transform BLR airport into the new gateway to India.
