Bengaluru Airport City: A futuristic urban hub rises around Kempegowda International Airport

As Bengaluru inches closer to the reality of requiring a second airport, the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is preparing for a transformation of its own. Located 40 km north of the city, the existing airport is at the heart of an ambitious project: the creation of a futuristic, integrated township called Bengaluru Airport City, designed to serve as a thriving urban hub built around global standards.

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Spread across 463 acres, this airport city is being developed by Bengaluru Airport City Limited (BACL), a subsidiary of the Bangalore International Airport Limited. The project is not merely about expanding airport services, it is about creating an entirely new way to live and work. The vision: a space where people can work, live, learn, play, and innovate in a sustainable, tech-driven environment.

The city will feature multiple zones: business parks, innovation hubs, hospitality spaces, health and education districts, a concert arena, a central park, and a logistics zone. Business parks alone will cover 241 acres, while the hospitality zone will span 44 acres. The remaining space will house public infrastructure, learning centres, and recreational areas.

One of the most anticipated developments is a 775-room combo hotel by Vivanta and Ginger, expected to be operational by October 2026. This will complement the existing Taj Bangalore hotel and is part of the 5,200-room hospitality capacity projected for the city.

The business park is already seeing construction, with the first phase covering 0.5 million sq. ft. aimed at technology firms, global capability centres (GCCs), and financial services companies. District I, a Global Innovation Hub within the park, will bring together startups, corporate labs, VCs, and academic partners in one collaborative space.

Education and workforce training will also play a central role. An Air India Academy, set to open in mid-2026, will train around 360 aviation professionals annually. Additionally, a concert venue with a 10,000-person capacity is expected to be operational by the end of 2026, boosting Bengaluru’s status as a cultural capital.

Two facilities are already operational, Voxeljet's 3D printing centre, which opened in July 2022, and SATS Central Kitchen, which began functioning in March 2024 and produces up to 1.7 lakh meals daily, serving aviation and institutional catering demands.

BACL’s approach was shaped after studying leading airport cities around the world, including those in Seoul, Amsterdam, and Munich. Their goal is to replicate international best practices in urban design, infrastructure, and mobility.

Rather than just extending the city’s footprint, Bengaluru Airport City represents a shift in how Indian cities can be imagined, smarter, greener, and more global.