THE new Bengaluru International Airport (BIAL) began operations last week when national carrier Air India flight IC 957 took off on May 24 to Singapore.

The airport will be formally inaugurated in June.

It is a joint venture between Siemens Project Ventures, Larsen and Toubro, Unique Zurich Airport, the Karnataka State Government and the Airports Authority of India.

BIAL CEO, Mr Albert Brunner, said: "BIAL has aimed to build a passenger-friendly, well-operated and financially sound airport. BIAL can easily handle the present traffic for the next two to three years.

During this time we want to realise the next expansion. The land at our disposal allows us to develop the airport up to a capacity of about 40 to 50 million passengers a year."

A total of 28 (16 international and 12 domestic) airlines now operate out of Bengaluru with 341 air traffic movements. Passengers are able to transfer between domestic and international flights under one roof at BIAL, which is also the first Indian airport to house a first-class business hotel within the complex.

Subsequently, BIAL will have a leisure and entertainment area. About 87 hectares of land will be developed into business centres, entertainment centres, malls and office space.