The Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka announced on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 that Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru has secured the third position among the world's most family-friendly airports, calling it a matter of pride for the state. The recognition highlights the airport's child-care facilities, dedicated play zones for children, and spacious terminals as globally noted amenities.

Context

The CMO's post, written in Kannada, stated: 'ವಿಶ್ವದ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಕುಟುಂಬ ಸ್ನೇಹಿ ವಿಮಾನ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣಗಳ ಪೈಕಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಅಂತಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ವಿಮಾನ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣವು 3ನೇ ಸ್ಥಾನ ಪಡೆದಿರುವುದು ನಾಡಿನ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯ ಸಂಗತಿಯಾಗಿದೆ' ('It is a matter of pride for the state that our Bengaluru International Airport has secured the 3rd position among the world's most family-friendly airports'). The office specifically cited child-care facilities, dedicated play zones for children, and world-class infrastructure including spacious terminals as the factors drawing global attention.

The Karnataka government stated that providing well-equipped infrastructure for air travellers and delivering a comfortable travel experience remains its top priority.

Policy Backdrop

Kempegowda International Airport has been operated under a public-private partnership by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) since it opened in 2008, replacing the older HAL Airport to meet the city's surging passenger demand. Bengaluru, Karnataka's capital and India's leading technology and business hub, generates some of the highest volumes of both domestic and international air traffic in the country.

Across India, airports have progressively expanded passenger-centric amenities — including family lounges, nursing rooms, and children's play areas — as part of post-2010 modernisation drives aligned with national aviation growth. Karnataka's state government has consistently sought to position Bengaluru as a southern economic gateway, and aviation infrastructure has been a key pillar of that strategy.

Stakeholders and Impact

The ranking is directly relevant to families travelling with young children, a demographic that weighs comfort and safety infrastructure heavily when choosing travel routes and airports. Business travellers and leisure passengers who transit through Bengaluru also benefit from the broader infrastructure improvements that underpin such a ranking.

For BIAL and the Karnataka government, the recognition serves as a reputational asset that can attract more international carriers and boost passenger volumes, reinforcing the airport's commercial and strategic importance.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to planned terminal expansions and runway upgrades at Kempegowda International Airport, which are expected to further increase capacity and improve the passenger experience. Subsequent global passenger experience surveys will be closely watched to see whether the airport can sustain or improve upon its current third-place standing among family-friendly airports worldwide.

The Karnataka government's stated commitment to making air travel infrastructure its first priority signals continued policy and budgetary focus on the airport sector in the months ahead.