A night view of Bengaluru airport.
Bengaluru: The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has been recognised with the Diamond Award – the highest distinction at the Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific & Middle East Safety Recognition Awards 2026, reinforcing its leadership in safe and resilient airport operations.
The ACI Safety Recognition Awards honour airport operators for advancing safety culture and strengthening safety management through effective, practical, and innovation-led solutions.
The Diamond Award represents the highest level of distinction under the programme.
The award acknowledges KIA’s sustained focus on runway safety, anchored by its Runway Safety Team (RST) and a collaborative, data-led operating model across the airport ecosystem.
Key initiatives include an indigenous Runway Safety Maturity Matrix, hotspot mitigation measures, enhanced pilot awareness programmes, advanced Foreign Object Debris (FOD) management practices, and continuous interventions to strengthen airside safety and operational efficiency.
Commenting on the recognition, Girish Nair, COO, Kempegowda International Airport, said: “As aviation ecosystems become increasingly complex and interconnected, safety can no longer be viewed as a standalone operational function. It must be embedded into the everyday functioning of the entire airport ecosystem. This recognition reflects the maturity of KIA’s safety framework and our continued focus on building resilient, globally benchmarked, and future-ready operations.”
“More importantly, it reinforces the importance of proactive collaboration across stakeholders in strengthening operational reliability, passenger confidence and long-term aviation resilience,” he added.
Stefano Baronci, Director-General, ACI Asia-Pacific and Middle East, said: “Aviation safety and efficiency are the bedrocks of our industry, and safe operations and runway management are equally critical to maintain the trust of travellers, especially in an increasingly complex operating environment. Airports across the region have demonstrated a high standard of leadership and resilience to adapt to the evolving environment. I congratulate the winners for their commitment to safety excellence.”
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