Airport gets 2 parking bays

PUNE: Two of the four new aircraft parking bays have been made operational at the city airport, taking the total number of bays to 10.
With two bays reserved for VIP movement and standard operating procedure for emergencies, that still leaves eight bays for commercial flight operations. Moreover, by the end of next week, two more bays, currently being tested, will be made operational.

At the airport, which at present is handling 200 flights a day, the addition of new bays is likely to ease passenger movement. “Earlier, we had just six bays. After landing, flights often had to wait for availability of parking bays, and that caused delays and problems for the passengers, airlines and the Airport Authority of India (AAI). Now we can use eight bays,” an official at the airport told TOI.

Even flights taking off from the airport are going to benefit. “The flights set to fly out from Pune often used to get delayed because of the limited parking bays. Now, with the extension of the apron area and additional bays, we are looking to end such problems once and for all,” another official said.

The official added that by next week, two more bays will be put into commercial operations. “The plan was to have four new bays. Once they are all in operation, the total number of parking bays at the airport will reach 12,” he said. “With quite a few airlines lined up for the winter schedule, the airport will see an increase in the number of flights soon. The new direct international flight to Singapore will begin operations from December 1 and next year, at least three more international direct flights are expected to start. All this in addition to the domestic flights. The new bays will be of great help,” he added.

The official said the aerobridge plan was also on schedule. “They will be installed by December,” he said.

Ravi Mahajan, a frequent flyer, said the officials need to concentrate on the big projects first. “Works like these are very important and the airport authorities should prioritize them. I have been stuck inside a ‘landed’ flight on two occasions. The doors were kept shut for nearly 45 minutes because the aircraft did not get a bay. It is good that the airport has taken up these issues,” Mahajan said.