Search for "Bengaluru airport metro" and you will find plenty of pages saying a metro line already serves the airport. It does not, at least not yet. The airport line (the Blue Line) is still under construction. Until it opens, getting from Kempegowda International Airport into the city means choosing between a bus, a train, a taxi, or a combination of bus and metro.
The right choice depends on two things: where you are going and what time you land. This guide walks through both.
The short answer
- Most people: take the Vayu Vajra airport bus. It is air-conditioned, runs around the clock on the main routes, and costs a fraction of a taxi.
- Heading somewhere on the metro network: take the Vayu Vajra bus to Majestic and continue by metro.
- Heavy luggage, a group, or a very late arrival: take a taxi or app cab.
- On a tight budget with a flexible schedule: check the few suburban trains from KIA halt station.
For fares, times and the full list of options, see our Bengaluru airport transfer guide.
Choose by destination
| Going to | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| MG Road, Indiranagar, Whitefield | Vayu Vajra to Majestic, then Purple Line | Avoids evening traffic on the way into the east |
| Majestic, Chickpet, City Railway Station | Vayu Vajra to Kempegowda Bus Station | Drops you right next to the metro and railway station |
| Electronic City, Hosur Road | Direct Vayu Vajra route, or taxi | Long cross-city trip; a direct bus avoids changes |
| Jayanagar, Banashankari, JP Nagar | Vayu Vajra to Majestic, then Green Line | The Green Line runs straight south |
| Hebbal, Yelahanka, north Bengaluru | Taxi or direct Vayu Vajra route | Short drive from the airport |
| Koramangala, HSR Layout | Direct Vayu Vajra route, or taxi | Not on the current metro lines |
Choose by arrival time
Early morning (5:00 to 8:00). Roads are at their emptiest. A taxi can reach MG Road in under an hour, and buses are quick too. If you are going somewhere on the metro, the first trains are already running when you reach Majestic.
Daytime (8:00 to 17:00). Buses are frequent and traffic is moderate. The bus plus metro combination works well for anywhere near a metro station.
Evening (17:00 to 21:00). This is when road traffic is at its worst, particularly on the way into the city from Hebbal. A bus to Majestic followed by the metro can be faster than a taxi to the east or south of the city, because the metro part of the trip ignores traffic.
Late night (after 23:00). The metro stops running around 23:00. Vayu Vajra keeps running on the main routes, but less often. A taxi or app cab is usually the most comfortable choice after a late flight.
How the bus plus metro trip works
- Walk out of Arrivals to the BMTC bus bay and find the Vayu Vajra bus to Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic).
- Pay the conductor on board. Keep the ticket until you get off.
- At Kempegowda Bus Station, follow the signs to the underpass for Majestic metro station.
- Buy a token or QR ticket. If you will use the metro several times during your stay, buy a Namma Metro Smart Card instead.
- Take the Purple Line east for MG Road, Indiranagar and Whitefield, or the Green Line south for Jayanagar and Banashankari.
Going to the airport for a flight
Plan more time than you think. The drive to the airport can take anything from 45 minutes to two hours depending on the time of day, and security queues at the terminal can be long at peak times. As a rule of thumb:
- Leave the city at least three hours before an international departure and two and a half hours before a domestic one.
- Add an extra hour if you are travelling on a weekday evening.
- If you are catching the train from KIA halt, check the timetable first, as there are only a few trains a day.
When will the airport metro open?
The Blue Line will run from Central Silk Board through KR Puram and Hebbal to the airport. It is being built in two phases, and BMRCL has revised its target dates more than once. When it opens, it will connect with the Purple Line at KR Puram and the Yellow Line at Central Silk Board, and the journey from the airport to Whitefield or Electronic City will no longer depend on traffic.
We will update this guide and our airport page as soon as the line opens.
Always verify schedules and fares with the official operator before travelling.