**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Civil Aviation's response to Unstarred Question No. 2270 concerning the facilities at Pune Airport, to be answered on February 12th, 2026. It addresses issues like flight delays, capacity constraints, and the status of the proposed greenfield airport at Purandar. The report outlines ongoing measures to improve passenger convenience and expands airport facilities.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Pune Airport (PNQ) Operations:**
* PNQ is a civil enclave operating within an Indian Air Force (IAF) base under shared-use agreements.
* Flight delays primarily occur during peak hours due to fog-related disruptions, IAF operational commitments, and technical issues.
* The airport is connected to 35 domestic and 3 international destinations.
* Airlines currently operate approximately 200 daily slots, against 235 slots approved by the IAF.
* **Passenger Amenities and Assessments:**
* The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has conducted capacity assessments of security checkpoints and boarding areas.
* Adequate seating and basic amenities are provided at all 11 boarding gates according to norms.
* Passenger-centric assessments are conducted regularly, ensuring facilities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
* Facilities include low-floor coaches, wheelchairs, 'May I Help You' counters, tactile floor tiles, lifts, elevators, and accessible toilets.
* Pune Airport has maintained an Airport Service Quality (ASQ) index above the target MoU level at 4.96 in the last two quarters.
* **Purandar Greenfield Airport Project:**
* In August 2023, a request was received from Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) to reinstate the 'Site Clearance' granted earlier in May 2018.
* The proposal was sent to Airports Authority of India (AAI), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and Ministry of Defence (MoD) for observations.
* Observations from AAI & DGCA and NoC from MoD have been sent to MADC for comments and compliance.
* The implementation of the Greenfield airport project, including land acquisition and funding, is the responsibility of the Airport Developer or the State Government, as per the GFA Policy, 2008.
* **Improvements to Pune Airport:**
* Revamping of the arrival portion of the Old Terminal Building adjacent to the New Integrated Terminal Building is underway.
* Approximately 4,000 sq. m. of passenger area will be added with additional check-in counters, boarding gates, and security infrastructure.
* The State Government has been requested to hand over 330 acres of land to Airports Authority of India for further expansion of Pune Airport.
**Impact Analysis**
**Passengers using Pune Airport (PNQ)**
* **Impact:** Passengers will be affected by ongoing congestion, flight delays, and limited flight options. Improvements to the airport, including the terminal expansion and new amenities, aim to enhance passenger convenience. The Purandar airport project, if realized, will provide additional connectivity and potentially more competitive airfares.
* **Action Required:** No direct action is required from passengers, but they should be aware of ongoing construction and improvements.
**Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC)**
* **Impact:** MADC is responsible for providing comments and compliance to observations from AAI & DGCA and NoC from MoD regarding the Purandar airport project. The MADC is responsible for the implementation of the Purandar airport project as well, including land acquisition and funding,
* **Action Required:** MADC needs to respond to the observations from AAI & DGCA and NoC from MoD. MADC also needs to oversee the implementation of the Purandar airport project.
**State Government of Maharashtra**
* **Impact:** The State Government's cooperation is needed for the expansion of Pune Airport, as it is requested to hand over 330 acres of land to the Airports Authority of India.
* **Action Required:** The State Government needs to proceed with handing over 330 acres of land to AAI for Pune Airport expansion.
**Airports Authority of India (AAI)**
* **Impact:** The AAI will likely be involved in the operations and expansions of Pune Airport.
* **Action Required:** No direct action is required from AAI, beyond normal operations.
Key Entities Referenced
Pune Airport (PNQ): A civil enclave located at an Indian Air Force (IAF) base that operates under shared-use arrangements.
Purandar: Location of a proposed greenfield international airport project intended to alleviate congestion at Pune Airport (PNQ).
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The government ministry responsible for matters related to Pune Airport (PNQ) and the Purandar airport project.
Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008: Policy document governing the implementation of Greenfield airport projects, including the Purandar airport.
Airports Authority of India (AAI): An organization involved in the review and potential development of the Purandar greenfield airport project.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2270
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12th February 2026 )
FACILITIES AT PUNE AIRPORT
2270. DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government is aware that the passengers using Pune Airport (PNQ) are
facing frequent flight delays, limited flight options, congestion at security and boarding
areas and inadequate amenities due to capacity constraints arising from its operation as
a civil enclave at an Air Force base and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has conducted any passenger-centric assessment regarding
overcrowding, waiting time, accessibility for senior citizens and persons with disabilities
and overall service quality at the airport and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the delay in operationalising the proposed greenfield international airport at
Purandar has deprived passengers of adequate connectivity and competitive airfares and
if so, the details thereof;
(d) the present status, revised timelines and financial outlay of the Purandar airport
project; and
(e) the immediate and long-term measures being taken to improve passenger
convenience at Pune Airport including terminal expansion, additional flight slots, better
public transport connectivity and time-bound completion of the new airport?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) & (b): Pune Airport (PNQ) is a civil enclave located at an Indian Air Force (IAF)
base and operates under shared-use arrangements. Flight delays at Pune Airport mainly
occur during peak hours due to fog-related disruptions at northern airports, cascading
delayed arrivals, Indian Air Force (IAF) operational commitments and technical issues
such as Aircraft on Ground (AOG). Pune Airport is connected to 35 domestic and 3
international destinations, with airlines currently operating about 200 daily slots against
235 slots approved by the IAF.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has carried out capacity assessment of
security checkpoints and boarding areas at Pune Airport. Accordingly, adequate seating
and basic amenities at all 11 boarding gates has been provided as per norms, and regular
passenger-centric assessments with facilities for senior citizens and persons with
disabilities is being ensured. Facilities such as low-floor coaches, wheelchairs, 'May I
Help You' counters, tactile floor tiles, lifts, elevators and accessible toilets have been
provided for senior citizens and persons with reduced mobility. Further, Pune Airport
has maintained the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) index above the target MoU level, at
4.96 during the last two quarters as per Airport Council International Survey.(c) & (d): In August, 2023, a request was received from Maharashtra Airport
Development Company (MADC) Limited for reinstating the 'Site Clearance', granted
earlier in May, 2018, for development of a greenfield airport at Purandar, Pune. This
request/proposal was sent to Airports Authority of India (AAI), Directorate General of
Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) for their observations. The
observations received from AAI & DGCA along with NoC conveyed by MoD have been
sent to MADC for their comments and compliance.
As per the GFA Policy, 2008, the responsibility for implementation of the Greenfield
airport project including land acquisition, funding, R&R etc. lies with the concerned
Airport Developer or the State Government, as the case may be.
(e): To improve passenger convenience at Pune Airport, revamping of the arrival portion
of the Old Terminal Building adjacent to the New Integrated Terminal Building is
underway, adding about 4,000 sq. m. of passenger area with additional check-in
counters, boarding gates and security infrastructure, thereby increasing terminal
capacity. For further expansion of Pune Airport, the State Government has been
requested to hand over 330 acres of land to Airports Authority of India.
******