Kannadigas constitute the majority of the workforce at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, its operator Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) said on Saturday, amid concerns over employment opportunities for locals.
The airport operator also said its ongoing expansion would create more jobs for people from Karnataka.
The statement came a day after pro- Kannada organisation Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) held discussions with representatives of 14 companies operating at the airport, seeking greater employment opportunities for local candidates. Since commencing operations in 2008, Kempegowda International Airport has contributed to Karnataka’s economic growth by creating employment opportunities and supporting a wider ecosystem of businesses, partners and service providers, it said.
In a statement, BIAL said it was aware of the concerns raised over local employment and was engaging with the relevant authorities and stakeholders to address them. “As the airport continues to grow and expand, it will generate further opportunities for Kannadigas across multiple sectors,” they wrote on X. Emphasising its connection with Karnataka , BIAL said the state’s identity, culture and aspirations were reflected in the airport’s art, architecture, design and passenger experiences.
The issue has also drawn the attention of the state government. Chief minister DK Shivakumar has urged private companies to provide more employment opportunities to locals while cautioning pro-Kannada organisations against intimidation and taking the law into their own hands.
KRV state president TA Narayana Gowda said the discussions were cordial and that the companies had responded positively to the organisation’s concerns. The companies acknowledged scope for increasing the representation of Kannadigas in their workforce and assured the outfit that they would step up local recruitment over the next year, according to KRV.
