Pune Airport gears up for the upcoming winter tourism season with ambitious plans to enhance its flight operations and connectivity. While the administration has increased the number of available flight ‘slots,’ the response from airline companies has been unexpectedly subdued, concentrating services on metro cities and capping daily flights at 100 during the winter season.
Enhancing Winter Connectivity: With the winter season, spanning from November to February, considered prime for tourism, Pune Airport is diligently focusing its operations during this period. The primary aim is to boost the number of flights to ensure vital connectivity. Initially, 218 flights were planned to operate from Pune between Monday and Friday, but only 200 flights are currently scheduled, despite the capacity to accommodate more.
Tourism and Passenger Surge: The airport anticipates a substantial surge in daily passengers, expecting to reach approximately 40,000 during the winter season. With Pune being a favored tourist destination during this time, the increased flight offerings will facilitate travel and support the tourism sector.
Airline Priorities: Airlines have chosen to concentrate their services on metro cities, resulting in the decision to cap daily flights at 100. However, the ‘Udaan’ scheme will address underserved cities by introducing services to improve regional connectivity in these areas.
Slot Challenges: Pune Airport currently operates with 10 slots for take-offs and landings per hour during the day and seven per hour at night. The airport authority had requested an additional 20 ‘slots’ per day from the Air Force to bolster operations, but the request was declined, citing Air Force traffic concerns.
Optimistic Outlook: Pune Airport Director Santosh Dhoke expressed optimism about the upcoming winter schedule, emphasizing the focus on increasing flight frequencies and utilization of available ‘slots’ to enhance passenger connectivity during this critical tourism season.
