Pune Airport to Receive 13 Acres from IAF for Expanded Aircraft Parking and Emergency Bays

Viman Nagar, 20th December 2024: The Pune International Airport in Lohgaon is set to receive a significant infrastructure upgrade, with plans for five additional aircraft parking bays and three remote bays in the near future.

Pune Airport Director Santosh Dhoke confirmed the expansion, stating, “In the next three months, we will receive 13 acres of land from the Indian Air Force (IAF). This land will be used to enhance the apron area and create remote bays for emergency situations.”

Dhoke explained further that in exchange for the land, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) will construct new offices for the IAF. “Once the IAF relocates to their new offices, the land will be transferred to us. Construction of the new offices is currently 80% complete,” he added.

Currently, Pune Airport has 10 aircraft parking bays and 10 aerobridges. However, the airport faces congestion, especially during peak times, with up to 200 flight movements daily. The increased traffic often leads to delays, forcing passengers to remain in their aircraft after landing.

The limited number of parking bays has become a concern for airport authorities, given the increasing volume of flights.

An airport official explained, “Flight bunching happens when multiple flights are delayed and arrive within a short window. This puts a strain on our infrastructure. With the addition of five more parking bays and the expanded apron area, we expect smoother operations.”

Additionally, three new remote bays will be constructed to address security concerns. The importance of remote bays became particularly evident following a series of hoax bomb threats during the Diwali travel period, which affected airports across the country, including Pune. Following such threats, protocol dictates that aircraft be moved to remote bays for safety checks.

“Currently, Pune Airport does not have remote bays. During such incidents, we either use one of the active bays or park the aircraft away from the main areas. The new remote bays will not only be crucial during emergency situations but will also serve as regular parking spaces to ensure better operational flow,” added another airport official.

This expansion is expected to alleviate congestion and improve the overall efficiency of operations at the increasingly busy Pune Airport.