There is a real possibility that seven hours of waiting at the airport could make you as affable as the shoe bomber. The Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) will close every day for flight operations between 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. starting March 11 till April 3 for maintenance work. Should passengers find themselves being stuck at the terminal during those hours, they have the option of some quick sightseeing of Nandi Hills or the Jain Temple nearby.
The airport operator, Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL), has tied up with various service providers to offer this convenience to travellers who find themselves all dressed up and nowhere to go when the runway is closed.
A BIAL spokesperson said the airport has tied up with state-run Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation to offer these quick tours. Air travellers can get the pertinent information at the arrival lounge enquiry desk. Besides, packages for nearby resorts for power naps and lunches are also on offer. Passengers will also be offered free Wi-Fi facility.
It was decided to take up the maintenance work in March and April as there is rain between May and November. A press release said the work will be carried out in a phased manner involving, in certain parts, closure of the runway, and in other parts, partial closure of facilities with minimal impact on airport operations.
The BIAL operates 340 flights daily, with only a small percentage flying between 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m.
Airlines gear up
Following the changes in flight operations, airlines are gearing up to handle customer queries. While most flights usually operating between 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. have been accommodated prior to or after the closure hours, some flights have been cancelled.
Air India's spokesperson said: “We expect the process to be smooth as BIAL informed us in advance. There will be minimum inconvenience to air passengers.”
The state-owned carrier, he said, has been informing its passengers through its call centre about the schedule changes. He also pointed out that most of the Air India flights are early morning and late evening. Jet Airways general manager (Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh) U. Harish Shenoy said its flights have been rescheduled and passengers would be informed about the cancellations and schedule changes.
So do travel agents
Travel agents have been asked to seek passengers' contact numbers so as to update them. While agents and corporate firms have been informed about the runway closure, Mr. Shenoy said the airline was in the process of updating the revised operating plan.
Other airlines such as Indigo have been mailing passengers about changes in the flight schedule.
