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G-BYGB · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:16 pm Post subject: Will BLR be a Hub?

BLR is India's fastest growing city and the IT capital of India.Many MNCs have come into the city.So lots of Int'l carrers are operating direct flights to BLR.Lots of IT professionals and other business men travel to Europe and to the US.Keeping that in mind,I'am wondering if BLR will ever be made a int'l hub by AI,9Wand KF?
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HAWK21M · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:28 pm Post subject:

Blue Dart is considering moving its Main base from MAA to BLR to the new Airport in the Future.
regds
MEL
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G-BYGB · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:38 pm Post subject:

I still don't see any interest shown by 9W or AI in starting a direct or a onestop flight from BLR to Europe and to US, despite ordering new acfts.Surely they can learn form their competitors who are operating from BLR for so many years.I'am sure that there is profitability in this route.
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G-BYGB · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:52 pm Post subject:

KF is the airline that has shown interest in operating frm BLR when they get the clearence to start int'l operation.Airlines cannot focus only on BOM and DEL anymore bcoz BLR has become a third busiest apt in the country.Even HYD ,COK,MAA and CCU cannot be ignored.
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Nimish · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:54 pm Post subject:

Excellent topic - one that I hope will come true.

I would not want AI making BLR their hub - at least not until they're privatized. Let them focus on BOM/DEL in the mean time and get their act together.

I'm actually quite happy that IT plans on making BLR their hub. 9W is content to deal with the BOM/DEL market - and compete with the likes of AI.

I think most of the thinking/decisions will start being made towards the of this year and early next year, when the BIAL airport will be getting ready. With 9W/IT/AI all ordering heavies, and barely any parking space left in the current BOM/DEL, I suspect they might be forced to park a few of their heavies at upcoming airports like BIAL. That in itself might force them to treat BLR as a hub.

In addition, consider the likes of SQ/TG - both of which have reasonably successful ops from BLR. This would be an ideal market to capture for Indian LCCs (for destinations in SEA), and for the likes of 9W/IT (for US ops).

No doubts that BOM/DEL are the #1 and #2 cities in India, and no airline should loose focus on them. Just that anyone investing in the #3 city will also benefit as much.

himmat01 · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1392 Location: DEL

Talking about Bangalore airport. I was at the airport to pick up may parents. The place was in a total mess.

There was no parking available and I had to go around in circles till dad gave me a call that they have collected the checked in luggage and are exiting the arrival area.

The amount of fuel consumed while going around the airport area must have been more than what my car consumed from Jayanagar to the airport. Maybe I should demand a congestion surcharge from the AAI. If the parking is full why can't they simply close the parking area instead of letting in 100s of cars.
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HamiltonAir · Member Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 937 Location: Bangalore

I agree with himmat01 on this one, BLR airport is a total mess. Cant wait until the new airport is completed.

Regards,
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Nimish · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:36 pm Post subject:

G-BYGB · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:17 pm Post subject:

Surprisingly,BLR apt is considered to be the worst apt in India by top corporates and other businessmen.This survey was done by NDTV last year. Thats pretty odd for an apt that is third busiest in the country. Confused

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AKLDELNonstop · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1066 Location: Auckland

Exactly a year since I last transitted through BLR on a DEL-BLR-CJB leg. Had about 7 hours halt at BLR. Why I chose that combi I know not and I am a lot wiser for it but anyway. I spent the first four hours hiring an over priced car and went to watch Neil and Nikki at Forum Mall(If you havent branded me as insane already continue reading). Came back to BLR with three hours to spare. Didnt know what to do, thankfully there was a CCD. And at that point of time with three hours to kill and nothing to do, the STD booth seemed like heaven. Well for even God doesnt know what reason the lady incharge of the booth decided to get rid of me after an hour and a half on the phone. She said, " Saaaar, tooo long on thaa fone saar." I couldnt see a queue, so dont know what she was on about.

Anyway after enduring the hardship I finally board the ATR that will ferry me to CJB. Now, this is what happened:

A few days ago I was reading a business mag and there was an interview of a DN airhostess, who seemed quite patronising towards first time fliers. Anyway I board my flight, and guess what, the same female.
I march upto her ad this is what happens next:
(PS the broken english was intentional in the convo)
ME : mam where I sit?
AH : Anywhere you like.

I walk to a window seat

ME: Mam, this good?
AH: Yeah sure.

I pick up the seatbelt

ME: Mam what this rope?
AH: Its a seatbelt. Wait I will show you how to use it.

She comes and puts the seatbelt on for me. As she does so, the engines of the ATR start moving. And I feign a frightened look on my face. She does the safety demo for the other 10 pax on board and comes and sits next to me during take off since I looked petrified.

Well she holds my hand.

AH: Dont worry nothing will happen. I do this every day of the week. Its very safe. blah blah blah

I was still acting shaken.

After take off she goes around selling stuff and I doubt anyone buys anything. Anyway after that she comes and sits next to me still comforting me. In case I havent mentioned before she was really hot.

She sits next to me during landing holding my hand. And we land after a short hop of 25 mins.

AH: See nothin happened.

As I am bout to leave

ME: I ve been flying since the age of two, I read your interview a few days back.

I swear, the look on her face was such that if she werent on duty, she'd have murdered me.

While I had the widest smile my face had ever made. Hehe, the joys of a first time flier.

Cheers

PS - Had originally thought of posting a TR on this but laziness rules. Since I started the rant about BLR, I thought might as well put this bit in.
Sorry to put it in the wrong location.
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Aiel · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 927 Location: Bangalore

Hilarious post, AKLDELNONSTOP.

I haven't had the "luck" to pass through BLR (only time in BLR passed in a drunken haze).

Agree with the above psots, that of the current airlines, only KF shows inclination to set up a hub at BLR (new). The other possibility could be spicejet (if and when they start major operations down south).
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the_380 · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:00 am Post subject:

AKLDELNonstop thats just toooooooo good Very Happy

Good work mate Cool

Loved reading it and a great presence of mind in taking such a step. Cheeerrrs to you yaar. Wink

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Nimish · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:30 pm Post subject:

Excellent story AKL! Now you know why BLR is the 3rd largest airport in the country hehe.

But seriously - Kudos to HAL for extracting this amount of traffic out of the tiny little shack of an airport.

VABBy · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 823 Location: DEL

Awesome AKL so u had a nice time on the DN flight i bet. Very Happy

Well since we are talking abt all this teasing stuff I have a confession to make

On my recent IC flight from DEL to HYD i did ask an FA out for a cup of Coffee because she was really pretty and seemed to be a nice person.

Bt sadly Sad

that thing never materialised as she never contacted back..

So yeah i knw poor me...
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AKLDELNonstop · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1066 Location: Auckland

Yeah VABBy I had a nice time, but as you can probably make out from the end of the post, that hottie probably never wants to see me again, and if keep making a Mickey out of them, it will be a long time before I get one to go out with me Wink

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starvmgopal · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:11 am Post subject:

If they want it to be a true hub they need to make sure (as per the agreement right now) that all fligts DOMESTIC AND INTL need to move to Devanahalli--New BIAL---I know it will be like hell driving 40 kms to there to get a 25 min flight to MAA, but it would be terrible and even more traumatic than mumbai if u had to take a 40 km bus ride to the domestic airport to connect to a flight. They already have a 6 lane road NH 7 and Hebbal flyover is great, just need that train connection to the airport terminal and eventually the "namma metro" which is still spinning its wheels.
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JumboJet · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:41 am Post subject:

BLR and a new begining may not see the future soon, but AKL will surely have one Wink

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