TOI

Bangalore, May 7: Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) has finally got the required licences to operate from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Confirming the development, DGCA sources said: "BIA has got its licences last week and is now ready to start operations." However, the airport will take off only by May-end, as announced by the civil aviation minister last week.

"DGCA officials expressed satisfaction during their last visit to Bengaluru International Airport and BIAL looks forward to receiving official communication from DGCA," is what BIAL said in an e-mail reply to TOI.

BIA's initial scheduled take-off date of March 30 was postponed as DGCA had withheld the licence over concerns of 59 safety irregularities.

The prominent ones being: shortage of skilled Air Traffic Control (ATC) personnel, delays in the construction of ATC facilities including the control tower, technical block and office accommodation for AAI personnel and issues like electricity supply, house-keeping, and air-conditioning of the tower.

Moreover, answers to whether Bangalore will have two functional airports are gathering momentum. According to DGCA sources: "The government is very positive that short-haul flights with seating capacity of less than 80 will be allowed to operate from HAL."