Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) is the main airport of Bengaluru (aka Bangalore), the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka.
It is located in Devanahalli, 40 kilometers north of Bengaluru's city center. BLR is a busy passenger and cargo hub with over 37 million passengers served in 2024 and quickly growing and improving facilities.
Kempegowda is India’s third-largest airport after Delhi’s Indira Gandhi (DEL) and Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (BOM), and one of the world’s 60 busiest airports.
Major Airlines - Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara
Kempegowda International Airport is a hub for almost all major Indian airlines. These include the flag carrier Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express, as well as other domestic carriers like IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Vistara.
Together, these airlines connect Bangalore to pretty much any city in India as well as many international destinations in Asia and Europe.
Several international carriers also offer direct flights to BGL Airport. These include:
Lufthansa flies to Frankfurt and Munich.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly to London Heathrow.
Air France flies to Paris CDG.
KLM flies to Amsterdam.
Qatar Airways flies to Doha Hamad.
Singapore Airlines flies to Changi Airport.
Malaysia Airlines flies to Kuala Lumpur.
Turkish Airlines flies to Istanbul.
Qantas flies to Sydney.
In total, Bengaluru is linked by direct flights to 5 of the world’s continents (all except South America).
To see all airlines serving BLR, click here.
Terminal Layout of BLR
Kempegowda Airport has 2 terminals:
Terminal 1 (T1): The older of the two terminals. It serves only domestic flights ever since the new terminal was opened in 2023. T1 is home to most Indian airlines.
Terminal 2 (T2): The new and very modern terminal that today handles all international flights and some excess domestic flights by Air India and Star Air.
The terminals are connected by a free shuttle service, making transits between them quite easy, though walking between them doesn’t take more than 10 minutes.
Connecting Flights and Transit at Bangalore
Connections, transit, and layovers at Kempegowda Airport are relatively straightforward.
International to International flight connections typically allow you to remain within the transit zone and not have to clear Immigration, even if your two tickets are not booked together, but only if the layover is less than 24 hours. For self-transfers, you must not have any checked-in luggage, as you will otherwise need to leave the transit zone to re-check it.
Domestic to International (or vice versa) in most cases requires that you change terminals. Using the free and frequent airport shuttle, this is not much of a hassle. Note that either way, Bangalore is where you will complete Immigration procedures (either entering or leaving India).
For longer layovers, consider having a day tour to Bangalore, Mysore, or other nearby places in the region. See the best things to do in Karnakata!
Wi-Fi at Kempegowda International Airport
Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport.
It’s easy to connect if you have a local SIM card: simply select the "BLR Free Wi-Fi" network, open your browser where you will automatically redirected to the welcome page, select “Local Phone Number” from the options for logging in and once you receive the OTP code put it in the box on the page.
However, if you don’t have a local phone number, you have to go to a “Wi-Fi Voucher Kiosks” in the International Arrivals area, where you can scan your passport and boarding pass to receive a Wi-Fi voucher with a PIN to log in.
Not the most convenient airport Wi-Fi, but once connected, the network is fast and reliable.
Dining Options at BLR
Kempegowda International Airport is amazing when it comes to food, with so many different and diverse dining establishments to choose from.
You can find anything from South Indian cuisine staples like masala dosa, idli podi, curd rice, and full thali meals, to international fast food chains like KFC, Subway, and Starbucks, and local cafés serving filter coffee and regional snacks.
These options are available across both terminals, both pre- (curbside) and post-security (airside).
Here’s a shortlist of the best places to eat and drink at BLR airport:
Bar 380: Located in Terminal 1, next to Gate 38. Enjoy magnificent 360 views of the runway with incredible cocktails in an opulent setting.
Hatti Kaapi: Serves traditional South India style filter coffee in Terminal 1 near Gate 29.
Buffalo Wild Wings: Wings, burgers, nachos, quesadillas, wraps, salads, and more in T1 in The Quad (kerbside)
Carluccio’s: Just because you’re in India doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some of the best Italian cuisine out there! This authentic pizzeria is next to the Domestic Departure Gates in T2.
La Madeleine Express: Talking of foreign cuisine, France is represented near Gate 18 in T2.
Bhartiya Jalpan: A famous name in India for traditional sweets and savoury snacks. Find it in the T2 Forecourt (curbside)
Lounges at Kempegowda Airport
Kempegowda Airport has some of the best airport lounges in all of India.
The 080 Lounges receive stellar reviews for their lavish spaces, opulent interiors, and top-notch service. Modern, elegant, and impressive, these lounges strengthen Kempegowda’s reputation as a world-class airport.
The East and the West Wing of T1 (Domestic) each house one such 080 Lounge serving curated dishes in a luxury setting. The west one even features a whole cinema!
Terminal 2 has 3 more 080 lounges - one domestic, one international, and one arrival lounge. They are all vibrant, classy, and comfortable.
Several airlines have their own premium lounges in Kempegowda Airport:
Air India (T1, Domestic)
Emirates
Qatar Airways
Etihad
Lufthansa
Singapore Airlines
Transport to and from Kempegowda Airport
Despite the relatively large distance from Kempegowda Airport to its home city of Bangalore, there are multiple ways of traveling between the two.
Public Transport
Public transportation is served by BMTC Vayu Vajra Buses. These are air-conditioned Volvo buses connecting the airport to various parts of Bengaluru. The buses accept both cash and UPI payments upon boarding.
To travel to other cities in Karnataka and other South Indian states, you can take a Flybus from the mezzanine floor of Terminal 2.
Additionally, the upcoming Namma Metro Blue Line will connect the airport to the city. Currently, the nearest railway station is Kempegowda International Airport Halt, located about 4 km from the airport. Buses synchronized with the train times shuttle passengers from this train station to the airport and back.
Private Transport
Various forms of private transport are possible at BLR Airport.
For starters, official taxis always wait for arriving passengers at a designated holding area. The licensed companies to provide rides at BLR are EasyCabs, Meru Cabs, and KSTDC. Their taxis are metered. A trip to Bangalore costs around 800-1000 INR.
More adventurous travelers can save money by taking an unofficial taxi outside the airport gate. This being India, you will undoubtedly be approached by several touts offering their taxi services as you walk down the covered walkway towards the exit. Your haggling skills can determine the price - a taxi ride to downtown Bangalore can be as cheap as 250 INR with the right bargaining strategy.
App-based ride-sharing apps are also available at the airport. These include Uber and Ola - both of them have a pickup point a little further outside the terminal building with rates to Bangalore around 500-600 INR.
Rent a Car
Chiefly, two car rental companies provide services at Kempegowda: WTi Cabs and Carzonrent.
You can find their offices in the Arrivals area.
Parking at BLR Airport
The airport has 4 single-storey car parks, all located very close to the terminals and with the same prices.
Two-wheelers park for 40 INR for the first hour, 20 INR for each additional hour, with a maximum of 250 INR for the first day and 150 INR for each additional day.
Cars park for 100 INR for the first half hour, 50 INR for each additional hour, with a maximum of 600 INR for the first day and 350 INR for each additional day.
Electric Vehicles (EVs) park at rates discounted by 20%. Slow charging is available in Bay C of P4.
Hotels near Kempegowda (BLR)
Those transiting through the International Terminal (T2) can stay at the T2 080 Transit Hotel overnight. With clean rooms, well-kept facilities, and helpful staff, it makes for an awesome value-for-money terminal hotel.
Of the hotels outside the terminal but within the airport grounds, one stands out: Taj Bangalore. It is a luxury hotel located just meters from both T1 and T2. It offers upscale accommodations, superb and relaxing common areas, and spectacular restaurant.
Bengaluru, India
