Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) has said that Kannadigas form a majority of the workforce at Kempegowda International Airport and pledged to create more employment opportunities for local young people as the airport expands.
The clarification was issued after Kannada organisations alleged that local residents were not being given adequate priority in airport employment. BIAL said it had taken note of the concerns related to local hiring and was discussing them with the relevant authorities and representatives of different companies operating at the airport.
The airport operator did not publish the exact number or percentage of employees who are Kannadigas in its statement. Its clarification came after a delegation led by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president T.A. Narayana Gowda held a meeting with senior officials of 14 companies operating at the airport.
Narayana Gowda had demanded fair employment opportunities for Kannadigas and said representatives of the companies had assured the delegation that they would increase the proportion of local hires within the next year. The report did not identify the companies or provide details of how the proposed increase would be measured.
The employment dispute was also fuelled by a claim made by Kannada activist Rupesh Rajanna that 90% of employees at Chennai airport were Tamil people, while Kannadigas accounted for only 10% of the workforce at Bengaluru airport. The video containing the claim was discussed on social media. BIAL rejected the implication regarding the composition of its workforce, stating that a majority of airport employees are Kannadigas.
The issue places employment at one of Bengaluru’s largest transport and economic hubs under public scrutiny. Kempegowda International Airport began operations in 2008 and has since expanded its role in passenger movement, aviation-related services and the regional economy. Employment at the airport is spread across BIAL, airlines, security, retail, hospitality, ground handling, logistics and other contracted services, although the statement did not provide a consolidated workforce breakdown.
BIAL also highlighted the airport’s connection with Karnataka’s land, culture and heritage. It said the state’s cultural characteristics were reflected in the airport’s architecture, design, artworks and passenger services, and that it had contributed to the state’s economic growth while creating employment for local residents since operations began.
The company said its commitment to providing additional opportunities for local youth would continue alongside the airport’s expansion. The statement did not specify a target for local recruitment, a timeline for publishing workforce data or the next steps in discussions with authorities and airport companies.
