Bangalore International Airport Limited believes that Bengaluru Airport will be the second largest in India

KIA currently connects 32 international and 80 domestic destinations with 39 airline partners including 16 freighters, according to the minutes of the stakeholder consultation meeting. | Photo credit: File photo

The operators of the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), currently the third largest airport in India, are confident that the airport will become the second largest in the country in a few years.

Hari Marar, Managing Director and CEO, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), participating in the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) stakeholder consultation meeting recently, expressed confidence that KIA will take the second spot.

Total attendance

According to the minutes of the consultation meeting of stakeholders on the determination of the air tariff for KIA for the fourth review period (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031), KIA was already the second largest airport in the country in terms of total domestic traffic. Mr. Marar said that in the next few years, the airport will definitely be the second largest in terms of total traffic.

Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is the largest followed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai.

The minutes of the meeting also stated that KIA currently connects 32 international and 80 domestic destinations with 39 airline partners including 16 freighters.

Mr. Marar said BIAL expects passenger traffic to reach around 72 million during the fourth control period, with cargo volumes estimated at 7,50,000 tonnes.

Ongoing projects

At the meeting, Mr. Marar presented the Fourth Capital Expenditure (Capex) Control Program which includes more than 30 projects which include Terminal 2 Phase 2, Western Cross-Field Taxiway (WCFT), apron stands, aircraft parking stands and taxiway base, carriageway and carriageway extensions including multi-level car parks and the Eastern Link Tunnel.

On the status of key projects under implementation, he said that the WCFT project is almost 50% complete and expected to be fully completed by March 31, 2027.

He added that all works projects at the airport are expected to be completed by December 31, 2027, and the pending work to upgrade Terminal 1 will be completed gradually by 2027.

On the Airport Terminal metro station, he said that work should be completed by 31 March 2027 and the metro should be operational by July 2027. He also said that the Airport West metro station is 50% complete and expected to be completed by 31 March 2027.

Tariff proposal

Mr. Marar said that in the proposed annual tariff plan, tariff rates have been reduced. However, even with BIAL’s 100% investment plans, tariffs would still decline or remain stable, with further reductions due to rationalization.

He also said that landing and parking charges are proposed to be reduced by around 35-40% in the first year of the fourth control period, followed by gradual increases, and that the User Development Fee (UDF) is proposed to be reduced from the current level with subsequent adjustments associated with the commissioning of key assets such as the WCFT.

Published – 14 Jul 2026 21:37 IST