Fliers suffer as air show shuts down part of Bengaluru airport

Despite preparations for Aero India 2017 in full swing for over two months, passengers were made to suffer delays at Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) here on Wednesday.

The airport authorities had officially communicated in January that the runway of the airport here would be partially closed from February 8 to 18 for the Aero Show and from February 19 to April 30 to build rapid exit taxiways.

The closure schedule it had circulated said the runway would be closed from 10 am to 1.30 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm between February 13 and 18, and it would be closed from 10.30 am to 5 pm from February 19 to April 30.

S Singh, one of those who had suffer had tweeted saying: “Very bad situation for passengers at Bangalore airport, please intervene.”

Aspokespersonfor KIALsaid airport authorities had informed the airlines about this last month and had also asked them to inform passengers.

“There is nothing we can do if airlines have not informed their passengers,” the spokesperson said.

“However, there was fog today in the morning, which meant that flights had to be delayed, which made matters worse in light of the runway closure,” the spokesperson added.

IndiGo, whose flights were also delayed, did not comment on the matter.

Officials at SpiceJet said lapses in communication might have occurred with those passengers who had booked tickets through travel portals.

“Besides, there are other problems with rescheduling,” an official said.

“We need to get permission from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and also the airports where these flights have to go.”