Reconsider Pune Airport Shutdown Plan During Festival Season: Passengers, Airlines To Government
Sumit Singh
Pune, 6th October 2021: The sudden announcement by the Pune International Airport to shut down the flight operations for 14 days has come as a major jolt to people’s travel plans amid the festival season.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) which owns the runway will undertake its re-carpeting work, hence the Pune airport will be closed from October 16 to 29.
“This is to inform all passengers that as per information received from Indian Air Force (IAF), due to runway resurfacing works, all flights from Pune Airport will not operate for 14 days from 16 October 2021 to 29 October 2021”, Pune airport tweeted yesterday.
Speaking to PunekarNews.in, many airlines officials said that they are requesting the central government to intervene and postpone the re-carpeting work.
People have slammed the move as only 10 days notice was given to them. Many passengers have already booked their tickets.
Mahratta Chamber of Commerce Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) chairman Sudhir Mehta said, “The closure of the Pune airport by the airforce for 15 days with just 10 days notice could have been avoided, especially when so many vaccines are being transported. While the city shares the airport with the airforce, it’s ultimately a national asset.”
The closure of the pune airport by the airforce for 15 days with just 10 days notice could have been avoided , especially when so many vaccines are being transported . While the city shares the airport with the airforce , it’s ultimately a national asset.
— Dr. Sudhir Mehta (@sudhirmehtapune) October 5, 2021
Technology entrepreneur Amit Paranjape tweeted, “Can’t think of any 7+ million city in the world…a city that is a top global mfg and IT destination…a city with tens of billions of dollars of export…a city that is top global vaccine producer – HAVING no proper civilian airport.”
#Pune Can't think of any 7+ million city in the world…a city that is a top global mfg and IT destination…a city with tens of billions of dollars of export…a city that is top global vaccine producer – HAVING no proper civilian airport.
cc @CMOMaharashtra @narendramodi
— Amit Paranjape (@aparanjape) October 5, 2021
Senior journalist Tania Roy tweeted, “Earlier there was news that #Puneairport would be shut for resurfacing work. The dates weren’t specified. Now when people have bought tickets suddenly they have announced airport will be shut in next 10 days from Oct 16-29. Couldn’t it better planned?
Now that #Pune airport will be shut Oct 16-29 the next closest is #Mumbai Senior citizens who had booked tickets to Pune will now have to go to Mumbai and travel to Pune by road. Pune airport could have partial shutdown or announced the dates well in advance to avoid harassment.”
#pune #airport #travel earlier there was news that #Puneairport would be shut for resurfacing work. The dates weren’t specified. Now when people have bought tickets suddenly they have announced airport will be shut in next 10 days from Oct 16-29. Couldn’t it better planned?
— Tania Roy (@taniaroy) October 5, 2021
https://twitter.com/quithate02/status/1445569409687318535
What hell is this?just a short notice of closing of airport,we had an emergency travel & while booking ticket I haven't received any notification from @flyspicejet. MPs @kolhe_amol @MPGirishBapat @supriya_sule @PMOIndia take this up with @DGCAIndia & @JM_Scindia . #PuneAirport
— Arit Kumar Sinha (@aksjohn) October 5, 2021
https://twitter.com/HealthKinetica/status/1445626599081066498?t=BKMAeWYpHYZZ8nB3zaZp0Q&s=08
@aaipunairport @AirAsiaIndia We have a flight booking from Jaipur to Pune on 16th Oct. PNR E6WC5K. Will we get replacement flight landing at Mumbai Airport.#PuneAirport #AirAsia
— Neha Mulay (@neha_mulay) October 6, 2021
@aaipunairport @JM_Scindia @IAF_MCC There should have been better planning for pune airport. Closing the airport just before diwali will hamper the plans of thousands of people. Please look into the matter and do what is best for everyone. 🙏
— Siddharth Shastri (@SiddharthShast5) October 6, 2021
@GoFirstairways , @makemytrip , @makemytripcare : I have booked tickets for Jammu-Pune flight scheduled on 19-Oct. Please let me know what will happen knowing that #PuneAirport is closed. @HereYouGofirst
— Harshad (@harshadanywhere) October 6, 2021
#PuneAirport I have a flight on 15 Oct from Pune to Lucknow and return flight on 20 Oct from lucknow to Pune. @IndiGo6E because of Pune airport closure my full journey is going to be hampered. What are the possibilities?? Please confirm @IndiGo6E @JM_Scindia @aaipunairport
— AB (@aviragbajpai) October 5, 2021
#PuneAirport #shutdown One decision ruined everything –
1. Spoiling Festive seasons
2. Vaccines supply slowdown
3. Difficult to replan everything
4. Extra charges on rebooking @aaipunairport pls rethink on this !— Sachin Rathore (@sachinrathore) October 6, 2021
