More flights expected from Pune as Covid numbers drop, restrictions ease

PUNE: The Pune airport authorities have indicated more flight operations from the city following ease of restrictions.
At the start of the summer schedule from March, the airport was gearing up for 108 flights per day. However, the second wave and the resultant restrictions caused a 70% dip in the number of flights in June compared to March. Airport officials said that there are 32 to 42 flight movements at present.
“Many airlines, which started flights under the summer schedule, stopped operations to many destinations due to the second wave, affecting passenger traffic,” an airport official said.
He added that now with some relaxations and significant drop in Covid cases, the airlines might think of operating more flights. “We are now hoping for a revival in passenger traffic. Airlines may then consider resumption of more flights. We hope to have 100 flights per day,” the official added.
In the summer schedule, the airlines had promised flights to Chandigarh, Delhi, Coimbatore, Bhopal, Goa, Hyderabad, Prayagraj, Darbhanga, Chennai, Jaipur, Nashik, Kochi and Varanasi. For a few destinations like Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad or Kolkata, airlines had more than one direct flight, giving multiple options to flyers.
However, things had changed drastically in the past few months, with many daily flights changing to weekly flights and the number of destinations shrinking.
“With the passenger traffic at all airports, including Pune, dropping, operating flights as planned in the summer schedule has not been possible. All states have placed strict restrictions and the unlock process will start slowly. The passenger traffic was almost zero for some cities. However, with things opening up, we will study the scenario and begin operations,” a local representative of an airlines, told TOI.
Flyers, too, hoped for more flights soon. “Until last week, there was only one direct flight from Pune to Kolkata — down from three in March. I think the airlines should increase the number of arrivals and departures, which will give flyers more options,” Tanay Ghosh, a frequent flyer, said.