Ramu Patil/ENS

Bangalore, Mar 19: An opinion poll, the first of its kind conducted at the HAL airport by Bangalore-based research firm Feedback Business Consulting Private Limited, has revealed that over 81 per cent of air travellers feel that since connectivity to the Bangalore International Airport is not in place, HAL airport needs to be kept open.

Over 71 per cent of them opined that BIAL, HAL and the Civil Aviation Ministry should come together to find a way to operate both airports, while over 54 per cent felt that HAL airport must be kept open even if it meant paying penalties.

The survey was conducted between Feb 26 and March 1, spread across different time slots from 6 am to 10 pm. A total of 1,148 people, frequent as well as occasional flyers in different age groups, were interviewed. Over 70 per cent of them felt that the closure of HAL airport would affect them.

“The opinion poll has shown the popular sentiment. Now the agencies concerned should look at the feasibility of keeping HAL airport open,” Chandramouli, general manager of the research firm , told this website’s newspaper.

The poll findings assume significance as Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has ruled out the possibility of keeping the HAL airport open as they will lose revenue and it will also amount to breach of agreement between the airport promoters and the Centre.

BIAL’s argument has not gone down well with industry bodies and the PSU, which believe air traffic has increased tremendously in last few years and the new airport will be saturated in the first year itself.

Experts feel that there are two options for keeping HAL airport open: one is market driven wherein airlines bid for capacity slots, with bid amount shared between HAL and BIAL. The second option is negotiated; limit one hour flying time from Bangalore and revenue sharing between HAL and BIAL.

An expert committee comprising two airports, airlines and industry bodies can decide on any one of the options.