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At present, Pune Airport cannot handle wide-bodied aircraft needed for long-haul international flights because the runway is too short.
As of now, Pune Airport operates flights to 35 domestic and 3 international destinations—Dubai, Bangkok, and Singapore.
(Representative Image) (Photo: Free Press Journal)
Pune’s long-standing wish for direct international flights—especially to Europe—is finally moving towards reality.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, confirmed that the runway expansion at Pune Airport has already begun.
The lack of direct flights to Europe has been largely due to the airport’s short runway, which cannot handle wide-bodied aircraft needed for long-haul flights.
Nearly 300 acres of land will now be acquired to make this extension possible. The costs will be shared between the Maharashtra government (60 percent), Pune Municipal Corporation (20 percent), Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (10 percent), and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (10 percent).
“If all goes as planned, in about 18 months, Punekars will be able to board direct flights to European cities,” Mohol said, as per Hindustan Times.
New International Airport at Purandar
The runway project is part of a bigger vision to improve air travel in western Maharashtra. Mohol also shared updates about the much-delayed Purandar Airport. The location has now been finalised, and land acquisition is progressing.
“This airport will meet international standards and strengthen Pune’s connectivity. It’s a matter of pride for the entire region,” the minister noted.
New Terminal Fully Operational
Besides the runway, Pune Airport is also seeing a facelift. The new terminal is now fully functional, and all operations have shifted there. Work to redevelop the old terminal has started too.
“Even though I travel often, Pune remains my top priority,” Mohol said. “That’s why I ensured the new terminal opened without delay.”
Here’s How Passengers Reacted?
Frequent flyer Kedar Mane expressed his excitement: “This is incredible news. Travelling to Mumbai or Delhi to catch an international flight has always been a hassle. Soon, we could fly directly to places like Frankfurt or Amsterdam from Pune itself.”
Currently, Pune Airport serves 35 domestic destinations and three international ones—Dubai, Bangkok, and Singapore.
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c…Read More
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c… Read More
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