The Fly in (to B.I.A)

As promised, the arrival experience to Bangalore International Airport is as follows.


This was the day when I was flying into the Bangalore International Airport (from Delhi). Had read reviews and had also being told that the departure was always good but the arrivals does bring in bad experiences. Well, this was my first arrival at the Bangalore International Airport (after the old H.A.L Airport was decommissioned).

Had an early morning flight out of Delhi (6:45 AM Indigo, from Delhi to Bangalore). Being a Sunday there was not much of traffic congestion in Delhi, so the flight did take off on time (for a change else there is usually a waiting list of 8-10 aircraft's waiting for takeoff from the Delhi Airport). The flight was uneventful and landed at Bangalore 5 min(s) ahead of schedule. The arrival time was 9:35 AM and it actually landed and we were off-board by 9:30 AM.


The Pilot himself announced that with the new Bangalore International Airport coming up, the arrivals are always on time - with no need to circle the city (Bangalore) for the Air Traffic Controller to provide the clear passage when an available slot would be available in the old H.A.L Airport and the flight could land. Well, that does not ATC are out of job - they did give the clearance and it came without any delay.

Thus the flight landed. Unfortunately the aero-bridges were already full. So the Indigo flight taxied to a place on the tarmac where the Indigo attendants were waiting for the flight. The arrival lounge is large (really large as compared to the old H.A.L Airport). One thing that provides a bit of an hindrance is that the arrivals of all the flights finally channelizes to a corridor. Becomes a bit of packed when many passengers have arrived and as usual they are rushing for the Baggage claims. Else, it is superbly designed.

The conveyor belts are in total 7 (compared to the H.A.L Airport that had only 3 conveyor belts). The rumour (as heard) was sometimes passengers had to wait 30-40 mins for the baggage's to arrive. The arrival/baggage claim lounge is so large that while we waited for the baggage - wondering when it would turn up - the silence was stunning !

But, call it luck (or what!), the baggage conveyor belt started off in 10 Min's..and the baggage's started rolling. I took a time stock - it was ~9:45 AM. Was relieved to see the bag roll out after five more minutes. It was 9:50 AM (not much of a rush - as it was a Sunday morning, so probably not much of incoming traffic into the Bangalore International Airport). Off-course, after the Baggage claim the Red-Channel and Green-Channel greets you - well, but were flying domestic. A lot of hawk-eyed cops and Customs officials (I suppose - as they were in dark suits) screened the outgoing passengers - for possible victims for Red-Channel.


Had seen earlier that the B.I.A.L - a/c VOLVO's departed on the hour, so when the baggage was collected and I exited the Airport - had around 5 min(s) to catch the a/c Volvo. Off-course, you will be met with free-lance Taxi drivers looking for a ride - if not walk on. The Pre-Paid taxi stand will be at your Left and the a/c Volvo Bus stand will be at your Right. They are both equidistant...must say, a nicely thought design. The best part is you can take the trolley all the way till the bus-boarding. No need to drag/pull/carry the luggage's if one is planning to take the Volvo.

The good thing is even the BMTC folks (dressed in White) - the official Volvo dress code, will be standing and directing the passengers to the awaiting Volvo's. Thus boarded the Volvo (BIAL-3, International Airport to Jeevanbhima Nagar) and started off at exactly 10:00 AM. Not bad, not bad at all. The journey was a 1:30 hr ride (as mentioned in the bmtc charts) and thus arrived at Jeevanbhima Nagar at 11:30 AM. Not to be forgotten, the Volvo conductor was quite courteous and helped out the passengers with the baggage's storage's, and coordinated dropping the passengers near auto-stops for easier next level transit.

Luckily, the auto driver did not charge much to travel to Vinayaka Nagar - very short distance !! - and was thus home by 11:45 AM. Over review of the arrival at B.I.A and the connecting transportation - will give a 8/10.

However, with rising prices of Aviation Fuel, B.I.A planning to add on an additional passenger tax (on top of what is already available) for all domestic/international to recover the new Airport usage, the rising cost of inflation - the Flight ticket prices are sky-rocketing.

Thinking of trying out the good old Rajdhani next time !! :-)