Pune: The airport officials are looking for an additional 20-25 slots for aircraft movement in the morning hours. Talks are currently on at the ministerial level.
A source told TOI that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the ministry of defence (MoD) may arrive at an understanding and the AAI may be allowed to have more civil flight operations during the day by adjusting the daily practice session timings of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
“If an adjustment can be made and we get around 25 additional slots during the day, many issues will be taken care of,” an official said.
Unavailability of morning slots is also a major problem for the airlines.
“For a business flyer, the time between 8am and 10.30am is crucial. For the airlines, it is prime time. However, in Pune, commercial flight operations do not take place during this time. Almost all new flights are being given slots in the evening and late evening hours. This results in bunching of flights and causes delays. We have raised the issue many times and hope something positive comes out this time,” an airline official, requesting anonymity, told TOI.
“The issue of fewer slots is a universal problem. Even the Delhi and Mumbai airports are struggling. The Pune airport belongs to the IAF. However, the airport has recorded immense growth in the number of passengers and flights over the years, which has also led to certain operational issues,” the airport official added.
13/02/19 Joy Sengupta/Times of India
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A source told TOI that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the ministry of defence (MoD) may arrive at an understanding and the AAI may be allowed to have more civil flight operations during the day by adjusting the daily practice session timings of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
“If an adjustment can be made and we get around 25 additional slots during the day, many issues will be taken care of,” an official said.
Unavailability of morning slots is also a major problem for the airlines.
“For a business flyer, the time between 8am and 10.30am is crucial. For the airlines, it is prime time. However, in Pune, commercial flight operations do not take place during this time. Almost all new flights are being given slots in the evening and late evening hours. This results in bunching of flights and causes delays. We have raised the issue many times and hope something positive comes out this time,” an airline official, requesting anonymity, told TOI.
“The issue of fewer slots is a universal problem. Even the Delhi and Mumbai airports are struggling. The Pune airport belongs to the IAF. However, the airport has recorded immense growth in the number of passengers and flights over the years, which has also led to certain operational issues,” the airport official added.
13/02/19 Joy Sengupta/Times of India
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