Pune airport makes history with maximum ever movement of flights in one day. Total 204 flights movement were reported on Sunday with 102 takeoffs and 102 landings. For the first time in the past, Pune Airport reached the maximum mark of 200 flight movements in a single day. It might be accomplished by the aviation sector of this city.
Record Breaking Traffic at Pune Airport
The airport was able to do this just a week when it asked airlines to fully occupy the slot allocated to them. Like most major airports, Pune Airport assigned time slots to airlines for take-off and landing. These help execute flight movements within the airport efficiently while utilizing all its infrastructure well. This Sunday, with more than 192 flight movements in the normal range of between 192 and 198, testifies to high demand and effective operations.
The 204 movement of flights has been a big milestone in the growth of Pune airport especially at this juncture of the current winter schedule, which began on 27 October. “There is growing demand in that region and these traffic figures are proof of this increasing demand,” said Airport Officials.
Flight Slot Optimization for increased efficiency
Of all the reasons, perhaps the most evident one is that allocated slots to flights are now more properly utilized. In a system of slot allocations, where an airport permits an airliner to take off at a particular time and at a particular location to return subsequently, there recently said to be unutilised or unused slots, causing the high price of a specific route.
Experts note that, indeed, airlines may not maximize the use of their slots in certain instances, among which are logistical challenges, aircraft shortages, and even other operational problems. In contrast, Pune Airport has ensured that the airlines allocated slots are maximized, making it possible to increase flight frequencies and decrease airfares, simultaneously. There, too, airport authorities have reminded the airlines that it is time to maximize utilization of slot availability since the number of passengers and consequently their demands are ever-increasing.
Increased Flights from Pune Airport in the Near Future
In the near future, Pune Airport will see further growth. A few more flights are slated to be launched in the next few months. Among these, an international route by Air India Express is planned to start between Pune and Bangkok. This is a crucial development for Pune Airport since it solidifies its position as a regional center for air travel.
Alongside adding flights, the airport is making efforts to ensure airlines make efficient use of the slot allocation to them. While it faces aircraft availability issues among others, airport officials expect airlines will continue to utilize slots much better as the number of passengers increases.
Improvement in infrastructure and passenger comfort
More flights sure shot indicator of increased passenger movements. Increased flyers at Pune airport have encouraged the airlines to put more flights during peak hours. “Growth in the passenger numbers has made the airlines maximize their slot utilization at the airport,” says Santosh Dhoke, director, Pune Airport. This trend would continue in the coming years because air travel would be in huge demand.
Presently, Pune Airport operates on 216 available slots of which 10 are open. Mainly red-eye (night-time) slots, these open slots are expected to get occupied with changing travel preferences. Passengers prefer flights on late hours and airlines too are witnessing a very good occupancy rate on such late hours flights with load factor going up to 90-95%.
Challenges and Future Developments
Despite all these progresses, there are still issues involved with this. First in line is the fact that its old terminal building continues to be used. Frequent flyers have complained that since the increase in capacity of the airport, all operations must be brought to the new terminal. As such, travelers believe that the process of clearing the old terminal and transferring the whole operation to newer facilities is an improvement for the entire process.
According to the airport officials, the old terminal’s infrastructure, such as airline counters, will be torn down. The work will start by the end of this month. A new road connecting the new terminal to the city, along with garden spaces, will also be developed to improve accessibility even further.
Conclusion
At 204 daily flight movements, Pune Airport sets a record that signals a bright future for the city’s aviation sector. Continued slot utilization and infrastructure development will continue to be critical in supporting further growth. With more flights expected and passenger demand increasing, it is a given that Pune Airport is certainly on the way to becoming even more integral to the India aviation network.
The commitment to upgrade passenger experience and operational efficiency secures it as a strong regional player in the expanding air travel market. As the market for aviation continues to advance, Pune Airport is aptly placed to serve both home and international travelers.
Refer :
TOI, Link to article
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