January 6, 2025: Pune airport is preparing for a significant rise in passenger traffic in 2026, with projections indicating an addition of nearly one million travellers over current levels. Building on steady growth recorded in 2025, airport authorities and aviation experts have emphasised the need for rapid infrastructure upgrades to manage rising demand without affecting operational efficiency.
A key improvement in the pipeline is the commissioning of a new departure facility with a full Security Hold Area (SHA), scheduled for March–April. This expansion is expected to ease congestion at check-in and security screening points while increasing the terminal’s overall capacity. Airport director Santosh Dhoke noted that passenger traffic grew by about 6 per cent in 2025 compared to the previous year, underlining the accelerating pace of growth.
At present, most flights operate using Airbus A320 aircraft, typically configured with around 170 seats. Authorities are in discussions with airlines to introduce Airbus A321 planes, which can carry approximately 221 passengers, enabling higher throughput per flight. Overall, the airport is targeting growth of around 7 per cent in 2026 across passenger numbers, cargo volumes and flight movements, following a 5 per cent expansion recorded last year.
Domestic passenger traffic rose by nearly 5 per cent in 2025, while international travel witnessed a sharp increase of over 65 per cent, reflecting Pune’s strengthening global connectivity. Cargo handling and aircraft movements have also shown consistent growth, further straining existing facilities.
In October, the Indian Air Force allotted 15 additional flight slots, taking the total to 237. However, airlines have yet to fully utilise these slots due to infrastructure constraints, particularly a shortage of parking bays. The proposed transfer of 15 acres of land from the IAF to the Airports Authority of India for creating additional bays remains pending.
Aviation experts warn that without timely expansion, the airport could face congestion, flight and baggage delays, and parking bottlenecks. Recommendations include renovating and integrating the old and new terminals, extending the runway, and developing more parking and remote bays. Frequent flyers have already reported aircraft waiting for parking or passengers being held onboard, highlighting the urgency of capacity augmentation as Pune airport prepares for future growth.
