Pune Airport Conducts Fog Management Mock Drill to Boost Winter Flight Preparedness
Viman Nagar, 13th December 2025: Pune Airport conducted a comprehensive mock drill and tabletop exercise on fog and low-visibility management on December 13, 2025, as part of its winter preparedness initiatives, in close coordination with key aviation and civic stakeholders.
The exercise aimed to enhance operational efficiency and improve passenger experience during fog and low-visibility conditions. It focused on ensuring coordinated and timely handling of flight delays, diversions and cancellations caused by adverse weather, particularly fog-related disruptions affecting flights to and from airports in northern India.
The drill saw active participation from airport staff, airlines, the Indian Air Force (IAF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), local police, the multi-level car parking agency, auto-rickshaw operators, Ola and Uber, taxi associations, Ground Handling Agencies (GHAs) and airport concessionaires. The emphasis was on strengthening inter-agency coordination, real-time information dissemination, passenger facilitation, crowd and traffic management, and continuity of essential terminal services during fog-induced operational challenges.
Key focus areas included dissemination of weather and flight information, passenger communication protocols, management of delayed and diverted flights, deployment of additional manpower, assistance for persons with reduced mobility (PRMs), availability of food and beverage services, cleanliness, seating arrangements, and adherence to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) passenger care norms.
During the drill, the Airport Director urged all stakeholders to adopt a proactive approach to ensure a seamless and comfortable passenger experience. He asked local police authorities to ensure effective crowd and traffic management in and around the airport. He also stressed that during crisis situations, no exorbitant fares should be charged by nearby hotels, taxi operators or cab aggregators, and that passenger interests must be protected at all times. The local administration and police were requested to take appropriate measures in this regard. Airlines were advised to provide advance and real-time updates to passengers in case of delays or cancellations to minimise inconvenience.
The exercise also tested coordination among airport operations, CISF, airlines and ground handlers to ensure orderly passenger movement, security preparedness, and maintenance of terminal infrastructure and passenger amenities under low-visibility conditions.
Pune Airport said it remains committed to proactive planning and close coordination with all stakeholders to ensure safe, efficient and passenger-centric operations throughout the fog season.
