Air Transport

A new airport has finally opened in the southern Indian city of Bangalore after several delays.

The new airport was many years in the making and was built by a consortium led by private companies. It opened at the weekend to replace Bangalore’s government-run airport, which is no longer handling commercial flights.

Air India operated the first flight out of the airport in the early hours of 24 May. There were no major celebrations, however, as a formal inauguration is not due to be held for several weeks.

The airport was originally scheduled to open on 30 March but the Government ordered the company that built it to delay this to at least 11 May, following a strike by employees of state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) who are upset that the old airport was being forced to shut.

An 11 May opening target was also not met after the Government failed to issue operational permits. Permits were later obtained for a 23 May opening but late last week the Government ordered another delay, of 24hr, without giving any explanation.

The new airport, which is officially known as Bengaluru International Airport, was built by a consortium 74%-owned by Siemens, Unique Zurich Airport and Indian engineering firm Larsen & Toubro. AAI and the State Government of Karnataka hold the remaining 26%.

Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news