Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is preparing for its next stage of growth, with Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) planning to launch development works for Phase 2 of Terminal 2 (T2) by the end of 2025 or the start of 2026 and set for completion by 2028. The expansion will add 2.78 lakh sq m to the terminal, create 40 new apron stands, and develop a 28,000 sq m walkway to seamlessly connect T1 and T2.
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Capacity Boost for Soaring Passenger Growth
Phase 1 of T2, which opened in 2023, covers 2.55 lakh sq m and already accommodates more than 16 million passengers annually. Designed for 25 million passengers, it is nearing saturation. Terminal 1, built for 30 million, currently serves 70,000 passengers daily, well above its limit.
In 2024-25, KIA handled 41.88 million passengers, averaging 1.15 lakh daily. International traffic, particularly during midnight and early morning, continues to climb. To support this surge, Phase 2 will extend the “Terminal in a Garden” design, ensuring capacity and operational efficiency.
Preparing for Wide-Bodied Aircraft
From 2027-28, the airport expects more long-haul flights by wide-bodied aircraft. The additional apron stands and gates will cater to this requirement, strengthening Bengaluru’s position as the busiest airport in South India and the third busiest nationally. Passenger traffic has grown at a CAGR of 14% since 2022-23, underlining the urgency of expansion.
Construction and Investment Plans
BIAL has invited expressions of interest for an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract covering excavation, civil, structural, MEPF, ICT, airport systems, landscape, and Operational Readiness and Transfer (ORAT). Proposals are due by October 15. Construction is set to start in late 2024 or early 2025, with completion targeted for 2028.
BIAL Chief Operating Officer Satyaki Raghunath reportedly confirmed that by 2029, ₹17,000 crore will be invested in expanding airside, landside, and terminal capacity. Plans are also underway for a future Terminal 3, which could raise annual passenger capacity to 110 million. Meanwhile, Karnataka is evaluating a second greenfield airport near Bengaluru and considering reviving HAL Airport for domestic flights.