London, Menzies Aviation has been awarded a 15-year licence to provide ground handling services at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, strengthening the company’s long-standing presence at one of India’s fastest-growing aviation hubs and marking a significant expansion of its operational footprint in South Asia.
The licence was granted by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) and will take effect from 1 April 2026, with services expected to commence immediately once the required regulatory approvals are secured. The long-term agreement positions Menzies to deliver a full suite of ground handling services across both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, covering passenger services, ramp operations and baggage handling.
Menzies has operated at Bengaluru for more than 15 years through its air cargo activities, supporting a range of domestic and international carriers. The new licence extends that relationship into integrated ground handling, allowing airlines operating at the airport to benefit from a combined ground and cargo service offering under a single provider. The move reflects a broader trend among major airports and airlines towards operational integration as traffic volumes continue to rise.
Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru has established itself as a critical aviation gateway for South Asia. Handling more than 43 million passengers annually, the airport has seen sustained growth in both domestic and international traffic, underpinned by India’s rapid expansion in seat capacity, route networks and airline investment. India is widely regarded as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally, driven by rising middle-class demand, infrastructure development and airline fleet expansion.
As part of the agreement, Menzies will undertake a significant recruitment drive in the local market. Around 1,000 new employees are expected to join the business during the first three years of the licence, adding to the company’s existing cargo workforce of approximately 1,700 at the airport. New recruits will receive comprehensive training aligned with the company’s global safety and operational standards, a key consideration for airport operators and airline customers operating in high-growth environments.
The company has also committed to investing more than US$9.2 million to modernise and standardise its ground support equipment at Bengaluru. This will include the introduction of electric ground support equipment as part of Menzies’ longer-term sustainability strategy. The investment aligns with BIAL’s own environmental ambitions across the airport campus and reflects a shared focus on decarbonisation, efficiency and resilience in airport operations.
Charles Wyley, EVP Middle East, Africa & Asia, Menzies Aviation, said: “This long-term partnership reflects BIAL’s confidence in our global safety, compliance, and service standards, as well as our ability to support the airport’s sustainability and growth ambitions. Securing this 15-year license at one of India’s fastest-growing airports is an important step in strengthening our presence in a region experiencing exceptional aviation growth. We are proud to deepen our partnership with BIAL by delivering integrated ground handling and cargo solutions for our airline customers.”
From the airport operator’s perspective, the appointment of a global ground handling partner is intended to support both operational performance and long-term strategic goals. Girish Nair, Chief Operating Officer, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), said: “We are pleased to onboard Menzies Aviation as our ground handling partner, bringing with them a proven global track record and deep operational expertise across some of the world’s largest international airports. Safety remains our foremost priority at BIAL, and Menzies’ strong safety culture, robust governance frameworks, and consistent adherence to global best practices align closely with our own standards. We are confident this partnership will further strengthen safe, efficient, and seamless ground handling operations at BLR Airport, support our long-term growth and sustainability ambitions, and deliver consistent value to our airline partners and passengers, reinforcing our vision of becoming a world-class aviation hub.”
The 15-year licence further positions Menzies to support airline partners at one of the most dynamic airports in the world, in a market that is now the fifth largest globally by total passenger numbers and the third largest for domestic air travel. For Bengaluru, the partnership is expected to contribute to operational excellence, capacity growth and sustainability objectives as the airport continues to scale to meet rising demand across domestic and international networks.
“Friendly zombie fanatic. Analyst. Coffee buff. Professional music specialist. Communicator.”