Water pipe bursts at Bengaluru airport's Terminal 2, floods airline offices

BIAL, in a statement to Moneycontrol, expressed regret for any inconvenience caused by this isolated incident and reaffirmed their commitment to the comfort and safety of all stakeholders.

The swanky Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru airport suffered a water leak on January 1 after a pipe burst, flooding the first floor, which houses airline offices, sources told Moneycontrol.

The flooding caused severe inconvenience to airport and airline staff. "At around 7:30pm on Wednesday, a water pipe burst from the ceiling and leaked onto the first floor of the new Terminal 2. The leak affected offices of airlines such as Air India Express, Saudia, and Japan Airlines as the water entered into the offices. As a result, water damaged the ceiling and tiles, and staff had to be relocated," a source told Moneycontrol.

"In fact, stationary items like baggage tags, rolls, and boarding passes of airline operators were soaked in the water," the source added.

Also, read: Bengaluru airport's T2 leaks as heavy rains lash the city; 17 flights diverted to Chennai

When contacted, Bangalore International Airport Limited, which operates KIA, said in a statement: “On the evening of January 1, 2025, a potable water pipeline at Terminal 2 of Bengaluru airport experienced a leak. The issue was promptly identified and swiftly resolved. The leak affected a few back offices, however there was no impact on airport operations”.

“While addressing the issue, BIAL’s team acted quickly and provided alternate office spaces to affected airline partners. We regret any inconvenience this isolated incident may have caused and reaffirm our commitment to the comfort and safety of all our stakeholders," it added.

Terminal 2 of KIA was built at a cost of around Rs 5,000 crore and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 11, 2022. Known as a ‘terminal in a garden’. T2 was recognised as one of the world's most beautiful airports by UNESCO's Prix Versailles 2023. Domestic operations began on January 15, 2023, but the terminal experienced its first water leakage in May 2023.

International operations at T2 commenced on September 12, 2023. On May 9, 2024, the terminal faced another challenge when heavy rains caused water leakage near the conveyor belt.

Also, read: Bengaluru airport's newly-inaugurated Terminal 2 fails first rain test; water seeps in following showers