HAL Airport not ours, says AAI

BANGALORE: The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which has come in for sharp criticism for flouting air safety norms, has said it will not apply to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) seeking renewal of the licence of the HAL Airport.

AAI is operating over 40 airports, including the HAL Airport, whose licences have lapsed.

The HAL Airport does not fall in the same category as other defaulting airports as it is categorised as a defence airport, said AAI officials.

“The HAL Airport does not belong to the AAI,” said a senior AAI official.

“Even the Air Traffic Control is operated by HAL and the airport is classified as a defence airport.” The official said the AAI, which only has its administrative offices in the premises of the HAL Airport, “will not apply for renewing the licence of the airport”.

Apart from HAL Airport, the Mangalore airport is the other airport in the state whose licence has expired and is not being renewed.

While the licence of the Mangalore Airport expired on June 15 this year, HAL Airport’s licence expired in 2006.

The HAL Airport is used for operating defence flights, including flight testing, and also for handling VIP flights after the Bengaluru International Airport started commercial flight operations in May 2008.

Defence officials said the HAL Airport has the necessary clearance for operating and testing defence flights.