Pune International Airport Gears Up For Diwali Rush With New Pick-Up Arrangements

As the Diwali season approaches, Pune International Airport is preparing to accommodate an expected increase in passenger traffic by implementing new pick-up arrangements. According to The Indian Express, the Aeromall management has extended its services to ensure smooth operations during during the festive period. Last month, a direct pick-up service from the New Integrated Terminal Building (NITB) was introduced, initially for pregnant women, older citizens, and those with disabilities. This service offered them direct transportation to their selected drop-off locations.

In anticipation of growing passenger volume, the Aeromall authority may expand this direct pick-up service to include all passengers. YS Rajput, Vice President of Aeromall, said that while passenger traffic has not yet increased, the current 90% occupancy rate is likely to reach 100% during the festival season. To accommodate this increase, more changes will be made.

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Among these changes is the bolstering of airport’s management staff. Aeromall has set up additional service stations outside Terminal 2 to better manage congestion. “More staff have been deployed at NITB help desks, working in three shifts to ensure service efficiency and minimize inconvenience to passengers,” Rajput told media persons.

Additional changes have been made to alleviate congestion within the mall, particularly with lift operations. Rajput stated that Aeromall has five lifts, three with a capacity of 30 people and two with a capacity of 16 passengers. “We have disabled the call buttons for the three larger lifts on the upper floors, as they were primarily used by drivers and staff, leading to long wait times for passengers,” he said. Aeromall seeks to cut lift wait times to less than one minute in order to promote passenger convenience. The two smaller lifts will continue to serve all floors for everyone.

These changes, combined with the stronger management team, are intended to streamline operations at Pune International Airport, providing a smooth experience for travelers during the festive season.