Reopening the city's older HAL airport for commercial flights faces a significant legal hurdle, as it requires formal consent from the operator of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), according to a statement by Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol. The development underscores the binding nature of the concession agreement governing Bengaluru's primary airport.
The 150-Kilometer Rule and the Concession Agreement
The minister clarified that the provisions of the Concession Agreement (CA) signed with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) are clear. Any proposal to develop a new airport, or to reopen the existing HAL airport, within a 150-kilometer radius of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) requires explicit consent from BIAL. This clause is designed to protect the financial viability and traffic projections of the privately developed KIA.
The 2033 Deadline: A Key Factor
This consent requirement is particularly crucial for any move made before a specific milestone. Minister Mohol stated that reopening HAL airport before the 25th anniversary of KIA's operations—which falls in May 2033—would be subject to this clause. This date, May 2033, serves as a key timeline in the ongoing public debate about decongesting KIA by reviving the secondary airport in the city's heart.
The statement, made on December 18, 2025, brings legal and contractual clarity to a long-standing demand from various sections of Bengaluru's residents and industry bodies. They have argued that operationalizing the HAL airport would reduce travel time for those in the eastern and central parts of the city and ease pressure on KIA.
Implications for Bengaluru's Aviation Future
This revelation means that the path to reopening HAL is not merely an administrative or political decision but a contractual one. Any proposal must now navigate negotiations with BIAL, which operates KIA under a public-private partnership framework. The agreement's terms are aimed at ensuring the economic sustainability of the greenfield airport, which involved substantial private investment.
The ball is now effectively in BIAL's court regarding any pre-2033 plans. The development sets the stage for potential discussions between the government, which has been sympathetic to public demand, and the airport operator, which must consider its commercial interests and the terms of the binding concession pact.
