COMMENTS

Took the 4 PM KF to Pune on Tuesday. Have already mentioned the bus experience in another post. 3:20 pm isn't really peak time, but there still was a small queue on the two open departure entrances. (why can't they have all 4 open all the time?). Once inside, I walked up to the security check gate, about 4-5 of them were operational, with plenty of CISF folks manning them. 3:20 pm at the airport bus stand, and 3:30 pm I was all done, ready for departure. Nice.

Naturally lit departure hall area has a good feel to it. I hate to see energy getting wasted in those 24 hour artificially lit malls and closed spaces that have become the symbol of 'modernity' these days.

Rest rooms were clean (Either I got lucky, or their cleaning logistics have fallen in place). And the floor was continuously getting cleaned as well.

But, but, but. 3:30 pm isn't really a crowded hour. Still, the departure hall had a crowded feeling to it. And I couldn't help notice that all the seating is concentrated near the aerobridge gates. There are open spaces down below just before those checkin counters, then again just before the security gates, and then again in between those retail shops. They got to distribute the crowd around by keeping only those who have a departure in next 30 mins in the departure hall. Rest of the folks could hang around in other 'currently empty' areas. I think that the departure hall seating area could easily get a crowded feel during the peak hours (8-9 AM, 6-8 PM I guess).

PA system has a lot of echo. Got to tune the acoustics if they want passengers to hear announcements right.

Last crib is about the flight delay. Ours was delayed by 30 mins due to 'air traffic congestion'. Hope the 'congestions' won't continue beyond the 'teething' days. Because as I said, in return for the long commute time to the airport (and buying the original 'distant airport will help de-congest' theory), I want everything else to be really really quick and on time. Or else, HAL is waiting in the wings :)

Will add some cellphone pics to this comment. But no time right now, later.

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 I would not like to say much. Please visit my blog for the pictures of the visit on 28-May-2008. I am sure you will shudder.

If the airport fails industry and commerce ? 

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Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com

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Devesh,

Just a question - where does most of the cargo that is dispatched from BIAL come from? I am assuming primarily from Peenya Industries and other industrial areas such as Jigani etc... 

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I finally managed to upload all the pics on my blog. http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com/2008/05/bial-visit-28-may-2008-service.html.

Export cargo comes from all over, primarily Southern Karnataka, and parts of Tamil Nadu. Similarly import cargo.

In front of me, the Head of Cargo for a major south-east asian airline, was openly discussing with the AI-SATS people, "if you want, I will hold all cargo shipments to Bangalore for next 2 days, just clear this mess".

I have said before, an airport plays a far more vital role in a regions economy than merely transporting passengers. Everyday the AI-SATS warehouse should transit at least Rs. 100 Cr worth of cargo. Think of the losses being sustained by Bangalore's industry.

Thanks to this mess, Jet Airways has already embargoed cargo on their flights ex-Bangalore for the foreseeable future. Someone told me, that 2 days ago, the AI-SATS guys put an urgent consignment, booked on Jet, of blood samples being sent for testing, on an Indian Airlines flight instead.

Just a simple statistic. Globally, air cargo carries only 1% of global goods, by weight, but 40% by value. In today's globally competitive economy transit time is money. With JIT, cargo looses value each minute it spends in transit. The pressures on timely delivery are enormous. 

At the AI-SATS warehouse today, I saw huge cartons of Diesel Fuel Pumps being exported by air. This is a nature of the beast.

Bangalore today is the third highest air cargo port in the country behind Mumbai and Delhi, and has the potential of crossing Delhi within the next 5 years. 

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Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com

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If I can remember Mr Brunner had always highlighted BIA to become a major Cargo Hub other than Southern Hub for India. But I hope the concerned consessionaries get their act right to complete all the incomplete buildings.. Again the same question where did Rs.2500Cr go if we did not complete all these..

Devesh - in reality can they complete all the incomplete buildings in a short period of time? What is the reality?

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