Pune Airport runway expansion: Mohol says survey results positive

According to officials, the OLS survey was conducted in July by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), focusing on the development of the city’s aviation sector.

The minister said the meeting discussed key issues related to Pune Airport’s development, including runway expansion, construction of new facilities and accommodation of larger ‘Code E’ aircraft, which are used for international flights.

“This meeting was organised to discuss operation of ‘Code E’ aircraft to promote international flights from Pune. It’s a pleasure that the OLS related to reviewing the practical viability of this project was completed in record time, primarily finding the viability of this project positive,” Mohol said.

Last month, Mohol announced that IndiGo would begin daily flights to Dubai and thrice-weekly flights to Bangkok from Pune Airport, starting October 28.

The meeting also addressed other key issues, such as land acquisition by the state government, land transfer by the Ministry of Defence, apron area development, and runway length extension.

Aviation expert Dhairyashil Vandekar welcomed the news, stating that the need for a longer runway has existed for over a decade. He highlighted that the absence of an extended runway prevented wide-body aircraft from operating at Pune Airport, limiting direct international connectivity to destinations like the US or Europe.

Vandekar spoke about his 15-year-long effort to resolve Pune Airport’s runway expansion issues by engaging with various stakeholders, including Pune’s Guardian Minister, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). “In 2018, the IAF indicated that runway extension could not proceed unless the Lohegaon-Yerwada road at the end of Runway 10 was closed, with a court case and a stay from the Pune District Court further delaying progress. The PMC was tasked with constructing an alternative road to facilitate the closure,” he said.