Bengaluru’s identity as India’s technology capital — home to the Indian Space Research Organisation, a concentration of global IT companies unmatched outside Silicon Valley, and the headquarters of India’s fastest-growing startup ecosystem — makes its airport not just a transport hub but an economic artery. Kempegowda International Airport handles more than 4.4 crore passengers annually, making it the second-busiest domestic airport in India and the third-busiest overall. Named after Kempe Gowda I, the 16th-century chieftain who founded Bengaluru, it opened on 24 May 2008 at Devanahalli, replacing the cramped and capacity-exhausted HAL Airport at the city’s eastern edge. Its Terminal 2, inaugurated in November 2022, is a landmark of biophilic design that has won international recognition. A USD 2 billion expansion plan approved in February 2025 and international DigiYatra trials beginning in April 2026 mark the airport’s trajectory as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation gateways.
Quick Overview: Kempegowda International Airport
| Detail | Information |
| Official Name | Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru |
| Also Known As | BLR Airport; Bangalore Airport; KIA; BIAL |
| Location | Devanahalli, Bengaluru Rural district, Karnataka, India |
| Airport Type | Public — International |
| IATA Code | BLR |
| ICAO Code | VOBL |
| Owner/Operator | Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) — Fairfax India 54%, Siemens 20%, AAI 13%, KSIIDC 13% |
| Opened | 24 May 2008 |
| Hub for | Air India, Alliance Air, DHL Aviation, FedEx Express, Star Air |
| Operating Base for | Air India Express, Akasa Air, IndiGo |
| Terminal 1 Capacity | ~35 million passengers/year (post-upgrade) |
| Terminal 2 Capacity | ~25 million passengers/year |
| Runways | 2 (09L/27R and 09R/27L) |
| Elevation | 915 m / 3,002 ft AMSL |
| Coordinates | 13°11′56″N, 77°42′20″E |
| Distance from MG Road | ~35–40 km north |
| Distance from Electronic City | ~50–55 km |
| Passengers (2025–26) | 4,44,70,035 (+6.2% YoY) |
| International Passengers (2025–26) | 72,27,399 (+23.9% YoY) |
| Aircraft Movements (2025–26) | 2,79,971 (+4.5% YoY) |
| Cargo Tonnage (2025–26) | 5,32,012 tonnes (+5.9% YoY) |
| USD 2 Billion Expansion | Approved February 2025 |
| Namma Metro (Airport) | Blue Line Phase 2B under construction; target mid-2027 |
Kempegowda International Airport Location: Devanahalli on the Northern Plateau
Kempegowda International Airport is located in Devanahalli, Bengaluru Rural district, approximately 35 to 40 kilometres north of central Bengaluru (MG Road/Vidhana Soudha area) via NH-44, the Bengaluru–Hyderabad–Delhi national corridor. The airport address is KIAL Road, Devanahalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560300. The elevation of 915 metres above mean sea level reflects the consistent plateau character of Bengaluru’s northern tableland.
Devanahalli itself has historic resonance — it is the birthplace of Tipu Sultan, who built a fort here that still stands near the airport boundary. The area has transformed from agricultural land to a major aerospace and IT corridor since the airport opened in 2008. The Aerospace SEZ adjacent to the airport, the BIAL IT Investment Region (ITIR), and the Bengaluru Aerospace Park all cluster around the airport zone, creating an economic ecosystem that has materialised precisely because of the airport’s presence.
The airport’s distance from the city centre — 35 to 40 km — has been its most persistent passenger frustration. In typical Bengaluru traffic, the journey takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours. The Namma Metro Blue Line Phase 2B (KR Puram to Airport), under heavy construction as of mid-2026, is targeted for completion by mid-2027 and will reduce this to under 60 minutes by rail.
Kempegowda International Airport Code: IATA BLR and ICAO VOBL
The airport’s IATA code is BLR and its ICAO code is VOBL. BLR is one of the most-searched airport codes on Indian booking platforms — the gateway to India’s technology capital. VOBL places it in the VO southern India block. The airport operates under BIAL’s concession agreement extended in April 2024 until 2063, with a 150-km exclusivity clause that bars commercial aviation competition within that radius until May 2033.
In April 2026, BLR became the first airport in India to conduct live technical trials for contactless international travel — testing biometric, paperless international movement through a collaboration between IndiGo, the DigiYatra Foundation, and IATA. DigiYatra facial recognition for domestic departures was already fully operational across both terminals.
Kempegowda International Airport Terminal: T1, T2 and a USD 2 Billion Expansion
Terminal 1: T1 was the original terminal opened in 2008 and has undergone successive expansions. Post the latest upgrades, T1 is designed to handle approximately 35 million passengers annually. It primarily manages domestic flights and serves as the operating base for IndiGo, Akasa Air, and other domestic-focused carriers. T1 has the Plaza Premium Lounge, multiple food courts, a 24/7 pharmacy, retail outlets, and domestic arrival and departure halls. Aerobridges serve jet-class aircraft. Self-check-in kiosks are operational.
Terminal 2 — The Garden Terminal: T2 was inaugurated on 29 November 2022 and is one of the most celebrated terminal buildings in Asia. Designed with a biophilic philosophy, it incorporates bamboo, native plants, vertical gardens, indoor water features, and natural materials inspired by Karnataka’s ecological heritage. The signature scent “Dancing Bamboo” is diffused through the terminal to create a calming sensory environment — a detail that has received international coverage. T2 is designed for 25 million passengers annually across its Phase 1 implementation. It handles international departures and arrivals, international immigration and customs processing, and significant domestic traffic. It won the ACI Asia-Pacific Best Airport at Arrivals Globally award in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 — four consecutive years.
Connections by BLR (March 2026): In March 2026, BIAL launched the “Connections by BLR” programme to address the recurring challenge of passengers connecting between T1 and T2. The programme introduced blue and yellow wayfinding signs, sleeping pods for layover passengers, transit hotels, and a fast shuttle service between terminals. Inter-terminal transfers had previously been a common passenger complaint.
USD 2 Billion Expansion Plan (February 2025): Cabinet approval in February 2025 sanctioned a USD 2 billion expansion plan covering T1 upgrades to handle additional capacity, T2 capacity expansion to 30 million passengers, and space earmarked for an eventual Terminal 3 (T3). The long-term vision targets 100 million passengers annually — placing BLR among global mega-hub airports in scale. IndiGo simultaneously announced plans in May 2025 for a major MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) facility at BLR.
The airport holds a record profit milestone reached in May 2025 — BIAL’s first-ever profitability recording since 2008 opening, reflecting both the passenger volume growth and the maturing of its commercial infrastructure.
Kempegowda International Airport Connectivity: India’s Technology Capital to the World
By Air (Domestic): IndiGo operates as the dominant carrier from BLR, connecting Bengaluru to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Goa, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Jaipur, and dozens of other domestic destinations with the highest frequency. Air India, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Air India Express, and Alliance Air all operate extensive domestic networks from BLR. The airport handled 2,79,971 aircraft movements in 2025–26 — approximately 767 movements daily.
By Air (International): Bengaluru’s international connectivity has grown dramatically, with 72.27 lakh international passengers in 2025–26 — a 23.9% year-on-year increase. Major international routes include Singapore, Dubai, London (Heathrow), Frankfurt, Paris, New York (JFK), San Francisco, Seattle (Air India), Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, Riyadh, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and numerous other destinations. Air India’s Seattle service — a technically challenging ultra-long-haul route relevant to Bengaluru’s large US-based tech diaspora — is a flagship long-haul connection. Late 2025 saw new direct flights added to London, Singapore, and Phuket.
By Road: BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation) operates dedicated Volvo airport bus routes from multiple city points including Majestic (KIA-7), Sarjapur (KIA-8D), and Electronic City. Ola and Uber operate from designated pickup zones outside arrivals. Pre-paid taxi counters serve passengers without app access. The trip from central Bengaluru takes 1 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic and time of day.
By Metro (Future): Namma Metro Blue Line Phase 2B — the KR Puram to Airport stretch — was under heavy construction as of mid-2026, targeted for completion by mid-2027. Phase 2A (Central Silk Board to KR Puram) was expected by mid-2026. Once complete, the metro will connect the airport to the city in under 60 minutes, resolving the most persistent connectivity complaint about BLR.
Kempegowda International Airport Amenities: Award-Winning Experience Across Two Terminals
Kempegowda International Airport’s amenities span both terminals and reflect its position as one of the world’s better-rated airports. T2’s biophilic design creates a passenger experience that multiple international airport surveys have described as distinct from any other terminal in India — the combination of bamboo, plants, water, and the “Dancing Bamboo” scent making the departure lounge feel genuinely restorative.
Across both terminals: multiple premium and business lounges (including Plaza Premium, domestic airline lounges for IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air); extensive food and beverage from QSR to sit-down restaurants; duty-free shopping for international passengers; retail including luxury brands, books, electronics, and souvenirs; DigiYatra biometric boarding operational at domestic security; free Wi-Fi; charging points and USB stations throughout; medical facilities and 24/7 pharmacy; child care rooms; prayer rooms; sleeping pods (added March 2026); a transit hotel for layover passengers.
The airport runs on 100% renewable energy — the first airport in India to achieve this milestone — powered by an 11-acre fuel farm and a significant solar installation managed by CleanMax Solar. The sustainability infrastructure has earned BLR multiple international green aviation certifications.
FAQs: Kempegowda International Airport
Q1. What is the IATA code for Kempegowda International Airport?
A: The IATA code is BLR and the ICAO code is VOBL. The airport is in Devanahalli, approximately 35 to 40 km north of central Bengaluru. Book using BLR for all flights to Bengaluru.
Q2. How many terminals does BLR Airport have?
A: Two operational terminals — T1 (primarily domestic; 35 million passenger capacity post-upgrade) and T2 (international and domestic; 25 million passenger capacity; the “Garden Terminal” opened November 2022). A USD 2 billion expansion approved in February 2025 will eventually add T3.
Q3. When will the metro reach Kempegowda International Airport?
A: Namma Metro Blue Line Phase 2B (KR Puram to Airport) was under construction as of mid-2026, targeted for completion by mid-2027. This will connect the airport to the city’s metro network, enabling travel to central Bengaluru in under 60 minutes.
Q4. How far is BLR Airport from the city centre?
A: Approximately 35 to 40 km from MG Road via NH-44. Travel time by road ranges from 1 hour (off-peak) to 2.5 hours (peak traffic). Electronic City is approximately 50 to 55 km. The BMTC airport bus routes are the most economical public transport option currently.
Q5. What is Terminal 2’s distinctive feature?
A: T2 is India’s only major biophilic terminal — designed with bamboo, native plant species, vertical gardens, water features, and natural Karnataka materials to create an environment that feels like a garden. The signature scent “Dancing Bamboo” is diffused throughout. T2 won the ACI Asia-Pacific Best Airport at Arrivals Globally award four consecutive years: 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
