Pune International Airport recorded the highest passenger traffic of the year in November with a 44 per cent increase in international passengers and nearly five per cent in domestic passengers compared to October.
With 20,554 international flights, November saw a significant increase of 6,316 more passengers compared to October, which recorded 14,238 international passengers. This growth has helped Pune airport to cross 1.70 lakh international passengers from January to November. In contrast, domestic passenger traffic increased by five percent to 8.80 lakh passengers, up from 8.44 lakh passengers in October.
However, data from the Airports Authority of India shows a percentage increase for international passengers, while the overall increase in numbers is more noticeable in domestic traffic. More than 35,000 additional passengers contributed to the airport’s increased traffic, which is expected to increase in December.
The highest passenger traffic this year was May with 8.94 lakh passengers. But November broke the record and crossed 9 lakh passengers in a single month, including both domestic and international traffic.
Airport Director Santosh Dhoke attributed the increase in passenger numbers at the Pune Airport to new flights and operations under the regional connectivity initiative.
In November, IndiGo launched two direct flights to Dubai and Bangkok. The Pune-Dubai flight departs at 5.40 a.m. daily, arriving in Dubai at 10.10 a.m., and the return flight departs Dubai at 12.15 p.m. The Pune-Bangkok flight operates three times a week—Wednesday, Friday and Sunday—departs Pune at 11.10 pm, with the return flight from Bangkok departing at 01.15 pm.
According to the airport director, since Air India Express started direct flights in December, it is expected that the flow of international passengers will increase. Pune to Bangkok starting from 21st December. Five international flights operate from Pune Airport on three routes: Singapore, Bangkok and Dubai. IndiGo operates flights to Dubai and Bangkok, SpiceJet serves Dubai, Air India (formerly Vistara) operates flights to Singapore, and Air India Express now connects Pune and Bangkok.
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