Runways At Pune Airport: How Many Take-Off Strips?

Pune Airport, also known as Pune International Airport, is located in the city of Pune, Maharashtra, India. Pune Airport is an Indian Air Force base and the ninth-busiest airport in India by passenger traffic. The airport has a 2,540-metre-long runway oriented 10/28 and a former secondary runway that is now used as a taxiway. Pune Airport has two terminals, with Terminal 1 handling domestic flights and Terminal 2 catering to international flights. The airport serves as a major hub, connecting Pune to important domestic and international destinations.

Pune Airport's runway is 2,540m long

Pune Airport, also known as Pune International Airport, is located in Lohegaon, Pune, India. It is situated around 10 kilometres northeast of Pune's city centre. The airport is an Indian Air Force base, serving the city of Pune, Maharashtra, and is operated by the Airports Authority of India.

Pune Airport has a runway that is 2,540 metres long, oriented 10/28. The length of the runway is an important consideration for aircraft taking off and landing. In the case of Pune Airport, the runway length has posed some limitations on the types of aircraft that can operate at the airport. For example, when Lufthansa introduced economy class on its route to Frankfurt, it had to reduce the seating capacity of its aircraft to accommodate the necessary fuel for the long-haul flight.

The airfield was established in 1939 as RAF Poona to provide air security to the city of Mumbai. Over the years, Pune Airport has undergone several upgrades and improvements to accommodate increasing passenger traffic and different types of aircraft. A former secondary runway is now used as a taxiway by the IAF, and a parallel taxiway was constructed to facilitate civil operations.

In addition to the runway, Pune Airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 handles domestic flights, while Terminal 2 is intended for international flights. The new Terminal 2 building, which opened in March 2024, is expected to significantly increase the airport's capacity, accommodating over 1.2 crore passengers annually.

Pune Airport is a busy aviation hub, serving as a gateway to Pune and the surrounding region. It is the ninth or tenth busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic, handling over 8 million passengers in the 2020 financial year and 9.5 million in 2023-24. The airport caters to both domestic and international destinations, with connections to major cities within India and international routes to Dubai, Frankfurt, and Singapore, among others.

With Pune being one of the fastest-growing cities in India, there are plans for a new greenfield airport, known as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj International Airport, to be built near the city. This new airport will help alleviate the increasing demand for air traffic and provide a dedicated cargo terminal for the region's agricultural exports.

A new terminal opened in 2024

Pune Airport, also known as Pune International Airport, is a major hub for flights in and out of Pune, located around 10 kilometres northeast of Pune's city centre. The airport is the ninth-busiest airport by passenger traffic in India, handling over 9.5 million passengers in the 2023-24 financial year.

The new terminal is part of an airport modernisation plan, which also includes the construction of a new parallel taxi track and an expanded apron to accommodate more aircraft. The old terminal building will remain, with some modifications to be completed by December 2024.

The new terminal will improve the travel experience for both domestic and international passengers, providing improved amenities and services and accommodating the growing passenger volume. Pune Airport now has two terminals, with Terminal 1 handling domestic flights and Terminal 2 dedicated to international flights.

The airport is 9-11km from Pune city

Pune Airport is located approximately 9-11km from the city of Pune, in the north-east direction. The airport is a civil enclave, operated by the Airports Authority of India, and is situated on the western side of the Lohagaon Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force. The airport is the ninth-busiest airport in India by passenger traffic, handling over 9.5 million passengers in the 2023-24 financial year.

The airport is accessible from the city by taxi, private transfer, or bus. The quickest way to get to the city centre is by taxi or private transfer, which takes around 15 minutes in normal traffic conditions. The bus is a cheaper option, costing around €1.25 (INR 110), but the trip takes 30 minutes or more, and buses depart every half hour.

Pune Airport has a rich history, dating back to 1939 when it was established as RAF Poona to provide air security to the city of Mumbai. During World War II, the base was home to squadrons of de Havilland Mosquito and Vickers Wellington bombers, as well as Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft. In 1947, the Royal Indian Air Force took charge of the airfield.

The airport currently operates both domestic and international flights, with direct flights to destinations such as Dubai, Singapore, Frankfurt, and Bangalore. Pune Airport is a major aviation centre in the area, providing easy access to Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

There are plans to construct a new airport for the city, named Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj International Airport, to be built on a greenfield site near the villages of Ambodi, Sonori, Kumbharvalan, and others. The new airport will be located further away from the city, at a distance of approximately 40km, and will serve as a dedicated cargo hub for the state, boosting trade and creating new job opportunities.

It is the 9th or 10th busiest airport in India

Pune Airport, also known as Pune International Airport, is the ninth busiest airport in India by passenger traffic. It is located in Lohagaon, about 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) northeast of Pune's historic centre. Pune Airport is an international airport and an Indian Air Force base, with a single civil passenger terminal that handles both international and domestic flights.

In the 2023-24 financial year, the airport handled over 9.5 million passengers, with a total of 8,59,229 passengers in October 2024. Pune Airport has consistently ranked as the ninth busiest airport in India over the last two years.

The airport has a single runway that is 2,540 metres long, oriented 10/28. Pune Airport's runway is on the shorter side, which has prevented larger jets with economy-class cabins from using the airport. However, efforts are being made to extend the runway to accommodate larger aircraft.

Pune Airport is a major hub, providing easy access to Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. It offers flights to important domestic and international destinations, including Frankfurt and Dubai. The airport has two terminals, with Terminal 1 handling domestic flights and Terminal 2 intended for international flights. The new Terminal 2 was inaugurated in March 2024 and opened for operations in July 2024.

Due to Pune's growing demand for air traffic, a new greenfield airport has been proposed. The proposed airport, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj International Airport, will be located near Pune in the Pune District of Maharashtra. It will serve as a cargo hub for the state, boosting trade and creating new job opportunities.

A new international airport has been proposed

Pune Airport is an international airport and an Indian Air Force base located in Maharashtra, India. The airport has a 2,540-metre runway and handles a significant volume of passenger traffic, with over 9.5 million passengers in the 2023-24 financial year.

Due to the limited expansion options, it has been proposed to build a new international airport to cater to the growing demand for air traffic in Pune. The proposed airport, known as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj International Airport, will be a greenfield project located near Pune in the Pune District of Maharashtra. It will be named after Sambhaji Maharaj, the King of the Maratha Empire, who was born at Purandar Fort. The site for the new airport was initially chosen to be near Chakan but faced opposition from local farmers and had mountainous terrain. As a result, the government decided on a site in Purandar taluka, a flatter region.

The new airport will be spread over 2,832 hectares and is expected to cost around Rs. 14,000 crore. It will include a dedicated cargo terminal, serving as a cargo hub for the state. The project is planned to be completed in four years, with construction starting as soon as land acquisition is finalised. The airport will have two parallel runways spanning a length of four kilometres and will be connected by six different routes, including National Highways 48 and 65.

The existing Pune Airport will also undergo expansion with a second terminal to accommodate the increasing passenger volume. The new terminal building, which opened in March 2024, is expected to start operations soon after addressing staffing and regulatory approval issues. Additionally, efforts are being made to extend the current runway to accommodate larger aircraft.

The proposed new international airport in Pune is a significant development to enhance the city's aviation connectivity and capability. With the increasing demand for air travel in Pune, the new airport will help manage the growing air traffic and provide efficient services to passengers.

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