Flying high T2, on the other hand, will be an integrated terminal handling both international and domestic traffic.
BIAL did not respond to ET’s queries. An insider, however, said: “It makes no difference to the passenger as both the terminals are close to each other, unlike in Mumbai.”
Bengaluru: The Fairfax Groupcontrolled Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) plans to dedicate the existing Terminal 1 exclusively for domestic flights, once the yet-tobe-constructed Terminal 2, is commissioned. The new facility, expected to be ready in March 2021, is being designed for higher capacity to cater both to international and domestic traffic. This is part of a long-term traffic allocation plan, mentioned in the Terminal 2 master plan. It is similar to the expansion plan of New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The reasons given for dedicating T1 for domestic airlines and developing T2 as an integrated terminal are: it reduces operational cost and improves efficiency; it consolidates international passengers in a single terminal and provides maximum flexibility for airline allocations and it balances the traffic demand in both terminals.
It is learnt that the BIAL neither considered international flights in T1 nor domestic flights in T2. Making both T1 and T2 integrated terminals was also not considered. This, it is learnt, is because T1 requires major reconfiguration to handle international flights.
T1 will not also be able to accommodate BIAL’s target of 11.5 million international travellers per annum. The document also notes that both the terminals (T1 & T2) will not be integrated as it could create duplication of services and transfer between terminals could cause inconvenience to passengers.
BIAL did not respond to ET’s queries. An insider, however, said: “It makes no difference to the passenger as both the terminals are close to each other, unlike in Mumbai.”
Terminal in garden With the theme ‘Terminal in Garden’, the design of Terminal 2 will focus on the environment and sustainability, creating a gardenlike interiors for travellers. Visually rich, the terminal’s quality of light, incorporation of natural materials and a tectonic approach would contribute to the garden ambience, says the terminal development plan.
T2 is being constructed over two phases to handle 55 million passengers a year. Last week, construction major L&T won a ₹3,036-crore project of building the first phase designed to handle 25 million passengers per annum. This includes 16 million domestic and 9 million international passengers a year.
BIAL was originally designed to handle 20 million passengers per annum, but handled about 27 million passengers in 2017-18. The operators managed to handle higher volume of traffic by reducing the spaces provided for the non-aeronautical services including retail, F&B and lounge facilities.
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