Pune: The Lohegaon airport has recorded a 23% dip in international passengers and a 6% drop in domestic flyers in 2019.
An airport official attributed the decline to the problems that beset the aviation industry last year. “Quite a few flights were discontinued. The struggle for daytime slot remains a constant worry and a major roadblock in getting new flights,” the official said, adding that they were hoping for some improvement in numbers in the summer schedule, which starts from the end of March.
“Last year the aviation sector faced — and continues to face — a major crisis. Jet Airways had shut, affecting flight movements at many airports. It also affected the international growth of the airport, as Jet operated two flights, to Singapore and Abu Dhabi. Those slots are still empty. Before this, Lufthansa grounded a flight to Frankfurt, as they don’t have aircraft for the route,” the official added.
Pune MP Girish Bapat, who heads the airport’s advisory committee, recently said he was told by airlines that starting new flights was not profitable, even as Indian Air Force remains reluctant to give daytime slots. He said he would meet airlines in the this regard after the budget session of the Parliament.
05/02/20 Joy Sengupta/Times of India
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An airport official attributed the decline to the problems that beset the aviation industry last year. “Quite a few flights were discontinued. The struggle for daytime slot remains a constant worry and a major roadblock in getting new flights,” the official said, adding that they were hoping for some improvement in numbers in the summer schedule, which starts from the end of March.
“Last year the aviation sector faced — and continues to face — a major crisis. Jet Airways had shut, affecting flight movements at many airports. It also affected the international growth of the airport, as Jet operated two flights, to Singapore and Abu Dhabi. Those slots are still empty. Before this, Lufthansa grounded a flight to Frankfurt, as they don’t have aircraft for the route,” the official added.
Pune MP Girish Bapat, who heads the airport’s advisory committee, recently said he was told by airlines that starting new flights was not profitable, even as Indian Air Force remains reluctant to give daytime slots. He said he would meet airlines in the this regard after the budget session of the Parliament.
05/02/20 Joy Sengupta/Times of India
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