Bengaluru: In 2004, the then chief minister S.M. Krishna had said that Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which was then in planning stage, would become a gateway to India.
The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), which will be celebrating its 10th year on May 26, has lived up to that prediction, as it is now the country's third busiest airport.
After a slow start due to a series of litigations over land acquisitions, the BIAL, which was later renamed KIA, was inaugurated in 2008, the third Greenfield airport in the country.
Built as an alternative to HAL airport, which had limited scope for expansion, the construction of KIA began on a barren land at Devenahalli in early 2005. In order to cater to high volumes of air traffic to the city, the airport was redesigned in June 2005.
In the opening year the traffic was 6.7 million passengers a year, but now it stands at 26.92 million and average air traffic movements per day is 541 flights, providing connectivity to 67 destinations.
On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, a 'BLR Airport Habba' will be organised on Saturday. Singer Shaan, DJ Jasmeet and others will take part in the event. The BLR Airport Habba will also witness performances from BIAL employees. It was adjudged as the 'Best Regional Airport' in the country and Central Asia by Skytrax in 2017.
