Bangalore, Feb 8 (PTI): The government is considering a proposal to make operational again for civilian flights the airport of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which was shut in 2008 after Bengaluru International Airport came into being.

This was informed by HAL Chairman R K Tyagi here today. Responding to questions at a press conference here, he said when BIA was opened in May 2008, "it was seen that unless it handled a passenger capacity of ten million, it will not have economic viability.

"But BIA today handles a passenger load of 12 million annually and the Bangalore International Airport Ltd, that runs it, plans to increase it to 17 million. HAL airport, which was being used for both domestic and international flights before the opening of BIA, today operates chartered and defence-related flights."

Tyagi sought to make out a case for HAL airport operating for short-haul flights, such as on the Bangalore-Chennai route, without impairing the interests of BIAL.

"There are already proposals under consideration with the Government (in this regard)," he said.

Tyagi said during a recent visit to the city, the Union Civil Aviation Secretary K N Srivastava took off from HAL airport, who was proactive "on this". Srivastava opined that it (HAL airport) is a valuable asset and maybe it can be used in association with BIAL.

There can be various options which can be worked out without harming the "commitments" (contractual obligations vis-a-vis BIAL with regard to condition that no civil airport should operate within 150 km radius of BIA).

Some modifications at government and corporate levels are needed in this context, he noted, adding, HAL feels "some workable solution will be found" before the next edition of Aero India, Asia's premier airshow, due in February 2015.