Air India and BIAL have entered into an agreement to develop Bengaluru as an aviation hub to boost air travel connectivity to and from India over the next few years.

Air India and Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) have entered into an agreement intended to develop Bengaluru as a premier aviation hub for southern India. It aims to boost air travel connectivity to and from India over the next few years.

According to a press statement by Air India, the agreement will see Air India come together with Tata Group airlines AIX and Vistara as well as BIAL to collaborate to enhance international connectivity, operational efficiency and passenger experience over the next five years.

This includes strengthening the group’s presence at Kempegowda International Airport, managed by BIAL, through an enhanced network and establishing a dedicated domestic lounge for premium and frequent travellers of Tata Group airlines Air India and Vistara.

As part of this initiative, Air India says it has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Karnataka to establish comprehensive Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities at the airport. 

Air India says it is focussing on strengthening its presence in Bengaluru and over time, expand its global footprint to meet the growing demand for direct long-haul routes originating from southern India. This partnership will stimulate the MRO ecosystem and is projected to generate over 1,200 new job opportunities for highly skilled individuals in the state.

“Airline-airport synergy is key to elevated customer experience and efficient operations, while Bengaluru is highly attractive as an origin and destination market as well as a connecting hub. We are therefore delighted to be strengthening our relationship with BIAL with a view to developing a greater presence at the airport, expanding air connectivity as well as building a major MRO centre. This partnership agreement is a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of Air India,” says Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India.

“As the busiest airport in South India, BLR Airport is dedicated to strengthening its position as the primary international gateway in Southern and Central India. This collaboration aligns perfectly with the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s vision of developing Indian airports as hubs, reflecting our commitment to enhancing the passenger experience. Given that over half of the international outbound travellers from Bengaluru and our catchment head to Europe, North America, Australia, and the Far East, our alliance with Air India represents a substantial leap towards this goal. We aim to capture a significant share of long-haul routes from BLR Airport over the next five years,” says Hari Marar, Managing Director and CEO, Bangalore International Airport Limited.