HAL Airport

HAL Airport

Company type	Government-owned
Industry	Aviation
Founded	January 1941
Founder	Hindustan Aircraft Limited (now Hindustan Aeronautics Limited)
Headquarters	Bengaluru , India
Area served	Bengaluru metropolitan area
Products	Airport operations, aircraft testing grounds
Owner	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

HAL Airport is the primary airfield serving Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka, India. Situated approximately 12 km to the east of the city centre, it features a single runway and operates around the clock. The airport is owned by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a government-owned defence enterprise, and mainly functions as a testing ground in partnership with the Indian Armed Forces. Additionally, it accommodates unscheduled civilian flights, including business aviation and VIP transport. For more than six decades, HAL Airport managed all domestic and international air traffic for Bengaluru until the closure of its civil enclave—referred to as "Bangalore International Airport"—by the Airports Authority of India following the inauguration of Kempegowda International Airport in Devanahalli in 2008.

The airport commenced operations in January 1941 with the establishment of India's first aircraft manufacturing unit by Hindustan Aircraft. During Second World War, the airfield was utilized by the Allies, and commercial airline services began in 1946. Passenger and flight activities grew steadily, particularly in the 1990s when Bangalore's economic boom led to increased airport usage, necessitating infrastructural enhancements. HAL expressed a desire for sole management of the airport, which spurred plans to develop a new facility to replace its civil enclave. Despite some opposition from local stakeholders and HAL’s later softened position, agreements between the new airport operator and government authorities required shutting down HAL’s civilian operations. Consequently, airlines shifted their services to Devanahalli airport on the night spanning 23–24 May 2008.

History

During World War II, Indian industrialist Walchand Hirachand sought to initiate aircraft manufacturing domestically by collaborating with American entrepreneur William Pawley. They obtained approval from the British War Cabinet to construct a factory on a 200-acre site granted by the princely state of Mysore in Bangalore. This led to forming Hindustan Aircraft Limited (currently known as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, HAL), which began operations in early 1941. The British colonial government joined the project in 1941 and assumed full control in 1942 due to wartime exigencies, enabling the US Tenth Air Force to utilize the facility for aircraft maintenance and drop tank production. Post-war, control reverted to the Indian government.

Scheduled commercial flights commenced by 1946 with Deccan Airways operating routes to Hyderabad. By 1952, several airlines offered connections from this airport to various destinations across South India. The government later merged domestic carriers into Indian Airlines, which by 1970 provided nonstop flights from Bangalore to six cities, including jet services with Caravelles flying to Hyderabad and Bombay. Passenger throughput reached roughly 550,000 during 1980–81. By the late 1980s, regional airline Vayudoot expanded services while Indian Airlines maintained routes covering thirteen cities from Delhi down to Trivandrum.

The economic surge in Bangalore throughout the 1990s drove rapid passenger growth at the airport, with daily travelers increasing from about 1,000 in 1991 to more than 6,000 by 1997. In January 1995, Air India launched Bangalore’s inaugural international flight route to Singapore. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) enhanced infrastructure by installing an instrument landing system and constructing a terminal capable of accommodating 700 domestic and 300 international passengers simultaneously. In January 1999, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee underscored Bangalore’s expansion needs by advocating for a new airport facility.

Initiatives for a replacement airport emerged when HAL declared its preference not to share its airfield with commercial airlines any longer. While HAL owned most of the land and managed facilities except for AAI’s civil enclave, private sector firms entered into memoranda with Karnataka’s government to relocate commercial flights once a new airport was operational. HAL later retracted its initial demand due to concerns over revenue losses from civil enclave activities. However, consortium partners insisted on closing HAL’s civil operations for profitability reasons; simultaneously, operational constraints at HAL limited further expansion possibilities. Although initial proposals were shelved temporarily, development efforts persisted incrementally.

In 2000, Royal Nepal Airlines introduced service between Bangalore and Kathmandu, followed by Lufthansa launching Airbus A340 flights connecting Bangalore directly with Frankfurt in 2001—marking Bangalore’s first direct European air link.

Throughout that decade, growth in Bangalore’s IT industry significantly boosted passenger volumes. Low-cost carrier Air Deccan established its hub at HAL airport in 2003. By 2005, Bangalore ranked as India’s third busiest city for domestic air travel; international airlines such as British Airways and Air France commenced operations that year. HAL reported that increasing commercial traffic interfered with its military functions; passenger numbers exceeded capacity by approximately 60% during fiscal year 2005–06.

Meanwhile, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) secured a concession agreement with government authorities in 2005 to construct a new airport at Devanahalli, located about 30 km from downtown Bengaluru. The contract stipulated that commercial flights would be prohibited at HAL airport for twenty-five years following the opening of this new facility.

The rising volume of passengers strained HAL airport’s infrastructure, resulting in terminal overcrowding and limited aircraft parking availability—with only eight stands—causing operational delays. With completion of the new airport still years away, AAI urged airlines to reduce peak-hour flight schedules and collaborated with HAL on expanding parking capacity. By late 2006, terminal expansions had increased annual passenger handling capacity by approximately 800,000. During fiscal year 2007–08, more than ten million travelers passed through HAL airport serviced by ten domestic and eleven international carriers. In April 2008, Air Mauritius launched Airbus A330 flights connecting Bangalore with Port Louis via Chennai.

Passenger numbers at the HAL airport

Period (April–March)	Count (millions)	Percent change	Ref.
2001–'02	2.28	–
2002–'03	3.03	+33.0
2003–'04	3.18	+5.11
2004–'05	4.11	+29.3
2005–'06	5.65	+37.5
2006–'07	8.12	+43.7
2007–'08	10.1	+24.6

Transfer of civilian operations

As the construction of the new airport approached completion, disputes emerged regarding the shutdown of the civil enclave. Local business figures contended that officials intended to eliminate competition against BIAL. The managing director of HAL's Bangalore division advocated for maintaining certain domestic services, citing robust demand for air travel that justified operating two airports. Nonetheless, HAL clarified that keeping passenger terminals operational was not their main priority. In March 2008, a nationwide strike involving 20,000 AAI employees took place in protest against closing civil enclaves in Bangalore and Hyderabad, concluding only after the central government guaranteed continuation of airport activities for other uses. The Karnataka government suggested that HAL airport should continue handling short-haul flights, but this proposal was rejected by BIAL.

On 23 May 2008, the state high court dismissed a plea seeking to postpone the inauguration of the new airport, confirming the midnight transfer of passenger and cargo flights. One flight departed from HAL at 1:30 am on 24 May due to weather-related delays. The court allowed the central government and BIAL a 12-week period to determine the future status of the civil enclave. BIAL aimed to enforce the terms of the 2004 agreement, with New Delhi endorsing this stance after assessing Devanahalli airport’s capabilities.

Following the cessation of commercial air services, HAL airport experienced a significant reduction in activity—from 310 daily aircraft movements in 2007 down to approximately 60–70 by 2015. HAL has persistently engaged with BIAL and governmental bodies to negotiate reopening the civil enclave as a means to increase revenue. Although supported by the defence ministry, BIAL opposed any modifications to the concession agreement for several years. In 2020, BIAL expressed willingness to consider reinstating passenger flights at HAL once Kempegowda Airport reaches its maximum operational capacity.

Facilities and operations

HAL Airport operates a single asphalt runway aligned along 90/270 degrees, measuring 3,306 by 61 metres. It is fitted with a category I instrument landing system and is capable of accommodating aircraft as large as a Boeing 747. The facility functions around the clock, featuring 30 aircraft parking bays and two helipads.

The airport facilitates various unscheduled civilian activities including VIP transport, charter services, and air ambulances. However, it is generally not designated as an alternate landing site for emergencies at Kempegowda International Airport; passenger terminal buildings are no longer maintained for public use, and airline operations are prohibited under the concession agreement. As of 2017, the civil aviation ministry has been evaluating proposals to permit emergency diversions to HAL Airport, arguing that the BIAL contract does not explicitly cover such scenarios. Civilian infrastructure comprises a VIP lounge, an air-freight warehouse, and a maintenance hangar. Previously, the civil enclave housed distinct terminals for domestic and international flights.

On the military side, HAL along with Indian armed forces utilize this airfield for conducting test flights.

Incidents and accidents

• 15 September 1951: An Air India Douglas C-47 Dakota crashed due to autopilot being inadvertently left engaged; one crew member died among 27 onboard.
• 21 October 1963: An Indian Air Force Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar struck trees during approach preparations, resulting in eight fatalities out of 21 occupants.
• 14 February 1990: Indian Airlines Flight 605, operated by an Airbus A320, crashed during final approach causing 92 fatalities.
• 28 December 1996: A Blue Dart Aviation Boeing 737 experienced a severe off-centre landing causing damage to both aircraft and runway.
• 12 February 2004: A helicopter from HAL Rotary Wing Academy crashed injuring both crew members.
• 26 October 2005: An Indian Air Force MiG-21 crashed leading to pilot fatality.
• 11 March 2006: A Deccan ATR 72 suffered a hard landing; no serious injuries occurred but aircraft was written off.
• 4 May 2006: A Transmile Air Services Boeing 727 incurred damage to its left-wing fuel tank.
• 21 August 2006: A HAL Kiran Mark II trainer aircraft landed on its fuselage due to failure of landing gear.
• 6 June 2007: A Sri Lankan Cargo Antonov An-12 lost engine power on runway causing disruption in air traffic.
• 6 March 2009: The NAL Saras prototype crashed near Bidadi resulting in death of all three test pilots.
• 1 February 2019: An Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 modified by HAL crashed during acceptance testing; both pilots ejected but succumbed after landing amidst burning debris.