The airport was constructed in 1940 by Walchand Hirachand, founder of Hindustan Aircraft Company, as an aircraft manufacturing centre. Two years later, the airport was requisitioned by the British for use by the Royal Air Force in order to protect India from Japan during World War II. In 1964 the airport was acquired by the newly established Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Commercial flights, initially only domestic, began in 1980. The first international flights from HAL Airport began in 1997. In September 2001, Lufthansa commenced flights between Frankfurt and Bangalore, marking the airport's first nonstop link to Europe. British Airways and Air France followed in October 2005 with flights to London and Paris, respectively.
Transfer of civilian operations
During the 2000s, commercial traffic to HAL Airport was rising at a rate of roughly 35% per year. Between 2006 and 2007 the airport received 8.2 million passengers, well above its capacity of 3.6 million. Because of this, in July 2004 the Government of India permitted the construction of another much larger airport for the city, situated 30 km from the downtown area of the city in the suburb of Devanahalli, after a concession agreement with Bangalore International Airports Limited. The new airport, named Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, opened on 24 May 2008. Per the Government's decision that no two commercial airports could exist within a 150 km radius, all passenger and revenue cargo flights were transferred from HAL Airport to KIAB. Since then, there have been several attempts to reinstate commercial air service at HAL Airport. Shortly before BIAL's opening, 20,000 employees of the Airports Authority of India went on strike against the closure of HAL Airport and Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad. In January 2015, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar appealed to the Civil Aviation Minister to reopen HAL Airport, citing its loss of revenue and its convenient location within Bangalore. However, the Indian Government has repeatedly denied these requests in accordance with its 150 km policy. The airport however remains operational round the clock due to non-scheduled, military cargo/logistics, and VIP aircraft movements and as a diversion alternative to Kempegowda International Airport in case of emergencies.
Runway 09/27: 3,307 by 60 metres CAT I, ILS equipped
This is the principal runway at the airport. It can cater to any type of aircraft including Code-F aircraft like the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747. There are 4 entry/exit taxiways, 2 on the east side named E2 and E1. Similarly there are 2 taxiways on the west side - W2 and W1. In addition, there are six aprons.
Closed structures
The passenger terminal is located on the north side of the airport. It contains two jetways and separate sections for domestic and international flights. Despite the rise in passenger traffic, there was no room to expand the terminal, and the apron in front of it could only park six aircraft. This terminal has now been converted into an executive terminal with lounges and facilities for business and VIP aviation.
6 March 2009, A NAL Saras aircraft prototype that had taken off from HAL Airport crashed in a field near Bidadi, killing the three man crew of test pilots.
1 February 2019, An Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 modified by HAL on an acceptance flight crashed 500 meters outside the airport perimeter wall after an unsuccessful touch and go on runway 09, both pilots ejected but landed on burning wreckage and died
