Pune to Get Direct Flights to Europe Soon as Runway Expansion Takes Off: Murlidhar Mohol
Pune, 30th June 2025: In a significant development for international air travel from Pune, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol announced that the long-awaited runway extension project at Pune Airport is officially underway. The move is expected to pave the way for direct flights to European countries — a long-standing demand of Punekars.
Currently, the Pune Airport is unable to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft required for long-haul international routes due to its limited runway length. This infrastructural bottleneck has prevented airlines from launching direct services to Europe and other distant destinations.
Runway Expansion to Enable Direct European Connectivity
“The absence of direct international flights from Pune, especially to Europe, is primarily due to runway limitations,” said Mohol while addressing media in Pune. “To address this, the runway expansion process has already commenced. Around 300 acres of land will be acquired for this purpose.”
He further detailed the financial model for land acquisition: “The Maharashtra government will contribute 60% of the funding, Pune Municipal Corporation will bear 20%, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) 10%, and the remaining 10% will be covered by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).”
Mohol expressed optimism that Punekars will soon be able to fly directly to European destinations. “In the next 18 months, we expect direct international flights from Pune to become a reality,” he added.
Purandar Airport Back on Track
Mohol also touched upon the long-pending Purandar International Airport project, which has faced repeated delays, mainly over land acquisition and site finalisation.
“The location for the new airport at Purandar has now been finalised, and the land acquisition process is underway,” the minister confirmed. “It is the responsibility of the state government to allocate land for any new airport, and during Devendra Fadnavis’s previous term as Chief Minister, the site was approved and initial work began. This airport will be built to international standards and will significantly enhance air connectivity in Pune and across western Maharashtra.”
Terminal Upgrades and Operational Shift
On the existing Pune Airport infrastructure, Mohol said that the transition to the new terminal building is now complete. “Today, 100% of flight operations are being managed through the new terminal. I made it a point to ensure that there were no delays in its launch. Redevelopment of the old terminal is also in progress,” he said.
Despite being a smaller airport compared to metros, Pune currently offers flights to 35 domestic cities and limited international connectivity — with two flights to Dubai, two to Bangkok, and one to Singapore.
Broader Vision for Air Connectivity
Mohol emphasized that these infrastructure upgrades are part of a larger roadmap to transform Pune into a major aviation hub. “Even though my responsibilities span across the country, Pune will always remain close to my heart. My goal is to give this city the air connectivity it truly deserves,” he stated.
