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A week after the airport authorities asked airlines to utilise the slots they had been allocated or surrender them, the total flight movements on Sunday reached the highest ever at 204 (102 departures and 102 arrivals).
This is the first time when the movements crossed 200. This number is also the highest in the ongoing winter schedule that began on Oct 27, airport officials said. “Sundays generally witness heavy movements, ranging between 192 and 198. Today, however, there was a signfificant rise. This is a good sign,” an official said.
A slot is the permission given by the airport operator to an airline for landing and take-off of its flights at a particular time of the day and using the infrastructure in the process.
TOI highlighted the issue last week, and aviation experts said one of the prime reasons for high airfares on many sectors was the unutilised or under-utilised slots.
“Some more flights are expected to start operations as the schedule progresses. One more international flight (by Air India Express) to Bangkok will begin this month. The more important aspect than the increase in flights is that airlines frequently use all the slots given to them. We do understand that at times it is not possible as airlines are still facing infrastructure issues such as fewer aircraft, but even then they should try,” the official pointed out.
Pune airport director Santosh Dhoke said, “The airport has been recording an increase in the number of flyers. Since the load is more, airlines are using their slots. We expect this will continue.”
The last time the airport saw exactly 200 flight movements was on Sept 16 and Oct 14.
Presently, 10 of the 216 slots assigned to the airport are empty. “These empty ones are primarily red-eye slots, and we do hope they too will be taken up by airlines. Travel trends are constantly changing, and many prefer travelling late at night or in the early hours. The flights operational during these hours are 90%-95% full,” another airport official said.
Palash Sathe, an IT executive who flies frequently, said all flights needed to shift to the new terminal building soon. “I fail to understand why the old building is still being used? If there are any roadblocks, they should be removed on a priority basis. The minister of state for civil aviation is from Pune, and he should take up the issue with the respective authorities,” he said.
According to airport officials, the work of dismantling airline counters and other structures at the old terminal building will begin by the end of the month. A proper road connecting to the new building along with gardens will come up, they said.
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