Travel: Flights to Bangalore

Bangalore Airport (BLR) is a domestic airport that caters to certain international flights too.

International Flights

Bangalore has direct flights to many major European and Asian destinations. Notable international flights are from Frankfurt on Lufthansa, from Singapore on Singapore Airlines and JetStar Asia, from Kuala Lumpur (KL) on Malaysian Airlines, from Helsinki on Finnair from London on British Airways, from Dubai on Emirates, from Paris on Air France and from Bangkok on Thai Airways.

Due to aircraft timing and airport capacity constraints, many international flights arrive and depart in the dead of night. For example, British Airways, Lufthansa, JetStar Asia, Emirates and Air France all schedule their flights to arrive and depart between 1am and 4am. Fortunately, the airport knows and expects this, so it is in full operation 24 hours a day. You won't have any more trouble changing money or finding a taxi at 4am than you would at 4pm.

A new international airport is under construction at Devanahalli, 30 km (19 mi) north of downtown Bangalore. The airport's first flight will take off in April 2008. It will cater to 11 million passengers in Phase 1. Its final capacity is estimated to be 40 million passengers.

Domestic Flights

Indian Airlines, now renamed as Indian, connects Bangalore with all parts of the country. Jet Airways and Air Sahara are other two major domestic airlines that fly into Bangalore from other major cities. Paramount Airways is a startup business-class only airline, with service to Chennai. Air Deccan is a popular no frills airlines that operates to most cities and large towns. Other no-frill airlines that operate from Bangalore include Go Air and SpiceJet. Kingfisher Airlines is a Bangalore based discount airline company, offering regular flights between Bangalore, Delhi, Goa and Mumbai. With a little bit of investigation, you might get a better fare on Kingfisher than from even the discount airlines.

On Arrival

Once off the plane, you'll need to go through immigration (if you are on an international flight) and then collect your bags. You'll then pass through customs and into the small arrival hall. If you need to get money, there is an ATM on the left just before you go outside the terminal. There are also a few money change booths that will accept all manner of foreign currency.

The best way to get into town is to take a prepaid taxi. There are two choices, a government run service with lower prices or a private operator with better service. At the government-run counter (look for the K.S.T.D.C. booth), you mention the locality you want to reach and pay a fixed amount. You get a receipt with the registration number of the taxi that will pick you up printed on it. Locate the taxi (the driver will probably be waiting for you just outside) and you're set.

Another option is to arrange with your hotel in Bangalore to have a driver pick you up at the airport. Some hotels, especially those in the higher price ranges, provide this service for free if you are staying with them. If it's your first time traveling to Bangalore, this is by far the easiest way to get from the airport to your hotel. The driver will be found outside the airport with a card bearing your name, the only difficulty being that about 100 other drivers will also be waiting outside the airport, all vying for your attention. Luckily there is a short fenced walkway that separates the drivers from those leaving the airport, giving you some time and space to find, and if necessary negotiate, your ride into Bangalore. Once you leave the walkway, some drivers may become fairly aggressive, and might try to take your bag without your permission. The best thing do to is to keep track of, and in control of, your belongings. Even the most aggressive taxi driver or tout will leave you alone if you stand firm and make it clear that you do not want their help. Upon arriving at your destination a tip of 20-40 Indian Rupees is plenty.