In the aftermath of Diwali festivities, Pune airport faced an unexpected surge in traffic, prompting several airlines to request passengers to arrive well in advance. The situation reached its peak on Sunday night, with the airport witnessing heavy rush, coupled with traffic slowdowns in the surrounding areas due to the Maratha Morcha rally organized by Manoj Jarange-Patil at Kharadi.
Vistara airlines took proactive measures by sending messages to flyers, forewarning them of potential delays. The message stated, “Traffic congestion and slow vehicle movement are expected today at Pune airport. Customers traveling to Pune airport are advised to allow more time for their journey.”
Sunday’s rush left passengers grappling with long queues and extended wait times, as shared by Milind Rathi, a traveler returning from Pune to Delhi. Rathi recounted, “Yesterday (Sunday), while traveling from the Pune airport back to my workplace at Delhi, there was a heavy rush at Pune airport. We had to wait for more than 2 hours to complete the check-in process due to the long queues.”
Sudhir Mehta, former president of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Agriculture (MCCIA), expressed the chaotic scene at the airport on the night of November 18, comparing it to a bustling fish market. Despite the noise and commotion, he noted the organized chaos, where everyone somehow found their way.
Adding to the account of the chaos, Manish Kenjale, another flyer, highlighted the challenges faced by passengers. Kenjale mentioned, “I experienced the chaos yesterday evening at Pune airport as multiple flights arrived within a short span, and the two baggage belts were catering to five flights. There was a crowd almost to a stampede situation, a shortage of trolleys, and several incidents of heated arguments between passengers and airline staff.”
In light of these challenges, airlines are urging passengers to factor in additional time for their journeys to navigate through potential delays and congestion at Pune airport.
