Idea: Airforce base to commercial airport for Blr and Pnq

Submitted by Tushar on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 22:22
Pune and Bengaluru Airports Plan with Kerala Comparison

Pune and Bengaluru Civil Airports Plan with Kerala Benchmark

Updated 01 Oct 2025

Why this matters

Both Pune and Bengaluru are straining with single primary airports that share operations with the Air Force. By mid century, neither city can handle its expected passenger growth without shifting defence bases out and creating multiple civilian airports. Kerala is a good comparison point since it already runs three international airports despite a smaller area and population.

Bengaluru Plan

Kempegowda International Airport handled about 41.9 million passengers and 2.65 lakh movements in FY 2024–25. Growth is strong and projections show 120 to 150 million by 2045. My plan is three civilian airports:

  • HAL reopened for short haul routes and limited Delhi/Mumbai premium flights, after shifting the Air Force out to a new base about 80–100 km away.
  • KIAL remains the full hub for domestic and all international flights.
  • A new southwest airport to balance catchment and reduce surface travel for Mysuru Road, Kanakapura, and Electronics City areas.

Pune Plan

Lohegaon handled 10.46 million passengers and 68,830 movements in FY 2024–25. It remains restricted by Air Force operations. The plan by 2050 is:

  • Shift Air Force out to a new base about 80–100 km away. Costs guided by Nyoma (Rs 230 crore) and Deesa (Rs 1,000 crore) benchmarks.
  • Lohegaon becomes a fully civilian airport with capacity expansion.
  • Purandar or equivalent greenfield built on south or west side with two 4,000 m parallel runways and 75 million passenger capacity long term.

Kerala Benchmark

Kerala has three airports: Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kannur. They serve a total state population of about 35 million and an area of about 38,000 sq km. Passenger traffic was around 17–18 million in 2019–20 (pre pandemic). Expected profitability is modest because Kerala has lower business travel compared to Pune and Bengaluru, but remittances and Gulf connectivity keep loads healthy. By 2030, combined Kerala airports are expected to handle about 25–30 million passengers, and by 2040 around 35–40 million.

Comparison Tables

Passenger Demand Projections (millions)

Region2025203020402045–2050
Bengaluru4270–80110–130120–150
Pune10.518–2230–4035–50
Kerala (3 airports)~18 (2019–20 baseline)25–3035–4040+

Population and Area Benchmarks

RegionPopulation (m)Area (sq km)
Bengaluru metro138,500
Pune metro87,100
Kerala state3538,000

Per Capita and Per Area Earnings Potential (Indicative)

Assuming average earnings of Rs 500 per passenger in airport related spend (tickets, fees, concessions):

Region2040 Pax (m)Gross Earnings Rs crorePer Capita RsPer sq km Rs crore
Bengaluru12060,000~46,000~7.0
Pune3517,500~21,800~2.5
Kerala3819,000~5,400~0.5

References