Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which operates Kempegowda International Airport, posted a seven per cent year-on-year cargo increase in 2012-2013 to 242,426 tonnes, according to Shipping Gazette.
The airport also opened new cargo bays to serve freighters and added six wide body freighter stands with seamless access to the cargo terminal, reports the Chennai Hindu's Business Standard.
The airport caters to pharmaceuticals, perishables (fruit and veg), electronics, engineering, machinery, automobile, valuables, textiles, readymade garments, among others with origin across South India, addressing trade needs from SAARC, Asia, China, Europe, US, Canada, Oceania and West Asia, said the release.
BIAL reported that over 12.86 million passengers were served in 2013-14, with 118,575 air traffic movements (ATM) even as the year witnessed many new improvements and the operationalisation of the enhanced terminal.
The airport also experienced the highest year-on-year growth in ATM in FY2013-14. Overall, the airport handled 7.3 per cent more passengers as compared to 2012-13, with 10.23 million domestic and 2.63 million international travellers in 2013-14.
Kempegowda International also saw 325 ATMs per day. Airlines witnessed average daily passenger numbers of 35,259 travellers, with seat load factors of 69 per cent for domestic and 75 per cent for international flights respectively.
Said BIALK managing director G V Sanjay Reddy: "The growth reaffirms our commitment of making Bangalore a gateway to South India."
New domestic routes to and from the airport for the year include Imphal, Agatti, Surat, Mysore, Pondicherry, Guwahati, Belgaum, Tuticorin, Indore and Dehradun.
BIAL also partnered the Karnataka State Road Transportation Corporation (KSRTC) to start the Flybus service from Bangalore to Mysore to develop the intermodal connectivity of the airport, according to a release from BIAL.
