Bengaluru becomes first airport in India to have independent parallel runways
December 7, 2019: Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru on Friday became the first in the country to operate independent parallel runways by opening the new 4000-metres long, 45-metres wide south runway.
December 7, 2019: Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru on Friday became the first in the country to operate independent parallel runways by opening the new 4000-metres long, 45-metres wide south runway. Thus BLR Airport now enables aircraft to land or take-off simultaneously on both runways.
Though the south runway began with limited operations, it will gradually scale up flight operations. The runway will initially have CAT I certification, and, as operations stabilise, will progressively manage CAT III B operations, enabling landing and takeoff in extremely low visibility conditions. The new runway will be coded RWY 09R/27L, while the existing runway will be renamed RWY 09L/27R (from RWY 09/27).
"It is a historic day for us at #Blrairport, as we commenced operations on the new runway. This will further bolster our vision to transform Blr Airport into the new gateway to India", says @HariMarar, CEO and Managing Director, BIAL. pic.twitter.com/nJkxRlO5ZP
"It is a historic day for us at BLR Airport as we commenced operations on the new runway. Our first runway opened 11 years ago and became a linchpin for the region's economic development during the last decade. With the aviation industry in India set for exponential growth, two operational runways will provide the thrust required to cater to this demand and further bolster growth of Karnataka and India. The opening of this key infrastructure is the outcome of phenomenal collaboration amongst various stakeholders and implementation of processes and procedures developed through advanced simulations and assessments. The new runway will further bolster our vision to transform BLR Airport into the new gateway to India," said Hari Marar, MD & CEO, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), operator of the BLR Airport.
BIAL has built an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Station with Crash Fire Tenders (CFTs) to cater to any fire-related emergencies on the South Runway.