New Delhi: Airlines have urged the government to reconsider shutting down Pune Airport for 15 days starting from the night of October 15 for runway re-carpeting. They say air traffic is just beginning to pick up and the decision for closing such a vital city airport for 15 days in the peak period — from Dussehra to Diwali — should be reviewed. Pune is a defence airfield with a civil enclave and has been awaiting a civilian airport for several years but to no avail.
“Very few commercial flights have been operating since last March. The runway carpeting could have been done earlier but closing the airport bang in the middle of peak festive season eludes logic. While it will anyway hurt struggling to survive airlines, the people of Pune will also suffer. They will now have to go to Mumbai for catching flights from there at this busy time of the year,” said an official.
The notice to airmen (NOTAM) issued says Pune airport will be shut from 8 pm on October 15 till 8 am on October 30, 2021. After that, the airport will remain closed for 12 hours from 8 pm to 8 pm till further notice.
Airlines have requested the government, both civil aviation and defence authorities, to defer the airport closure in the peak festive season.
05/10/21 Times of India
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