Pune: Surge in Flights at Pune Airport Under UDAN Scheme, Connecting Small Cities Across India

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Pune Airport has recorded a significant rise in flight operations under the Centre’s regional connectivity scheme, UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik).

Currently, the airport is connected to six smaller cities with 12 flight movements, bringing much-needed convenience to travelers. This year, eight new flights were added under the scheme, a major milestone since UDAN’s inception in 2016.

The UDAN initiative aims to connect smaller cities and towns, making air travel accessible and affordable. This is the first time Pune Airport has seen such a surge in UDAN flights, compared to just one or two RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme) flights in previous years. New connections include routes to Kishangarh, Nanded, Sindhudurg, and Jalgaon, along with Prayagraj and Bhavnagar.

Airport officials attribute this growth to favorable time slots granted by the Indian Air Force. “The airport is extremely busy, but with the support of the Air Force, we managed to secure slots for RCS flights,” said Pune Airport Director Santosh Dhoke.

Between January and November 2024, over 65,000 passengers traveled on these flights, with the Pune-Bhavnagar and Pune-Kishangarh routes recording the highest passenger traffic. Flights on these routes maintain over 90% occupancy, underscoring their popularity.

The direct connections have significantly reduced travel times for passengers. For example, the flight from Pune to Sindhudurg, covering approximately 370 km, has cut travel time from 10 hours by train or bus to just one hour. Similarly, the Pune-Kishangarh flight has eliminated the need for additional road travel from Jaipur, a distance of over 100 km.

Officials stated that Pune Airport still has a few unused slots and is in discussions with airlines to introduce more routes under the scheme. The goal is to further expand connectivity and improve accessibility to smaller cities across India.

This increase in regional connectivity marks a major step forward in enhancing economic opportunities and easing travel for thousands of passengers. With such strong passenger demand, the Pune Airport is well-positioned to connect to even more cities in the near future.