Pune: With the winter schedule at Pune Airport set to commence on Sunday, October 27, airlines have already booked 200 out of 218 slots, a rise from 180 slots filled last year.
Airlines are hopeful that the remaining 18 slots will soon be filled and have requested the airport administration to provide concessions to facilitate complete booking.
This winter season brings expanded services, with flights being added to 10 new cities, leading to increased activity at the airport. From Monday to Friday, the daily takeoffs and landings last winter totaled 90 each, which has now climbed to 100.
With increased flight availability, passenger numbers have risen, enhancing travel connectivity to and from Pune.
The new destinations covered by this winter schedule include Trivandrum, Chennai, Indore, Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Dehradun, Kochi, Bangkok, Dubai, and Chennai, the last of which will be served by two airlines.
Increasing Demand for 'Red-Eye' Flights
A noticeable trend in passenger preferences has emerged in favor of 'Red-Eye' flights, which depart late at night (between 10 PM and 5 AM).
Once considered inconvenient, these flights have now become highly popular, with most 'Red-Eye' slots booked well in advance. Currently, around 138 flights operate as 'Red-Eye,' and with the winter schedule, this number has increased by four.
Airlines note a shift from the minimal interest of previous years to a substantial uptick in demand, prompting them to increase nighttime services.
Aviation expert Dhairyasheel Vandekar commented on this trend, saying, "Since Pune Airport is run by the Air Force, it’s commendable that they’ve managed to provide so many slots for civilian use. However, to ensure full utilization, the administration could consider offering concessions to airlines for the remaining slots."
Pune Airport Director Santosh Dhoke confirmed that significant efforts had been made to maximize slot bookings for the winter schedule. "We’ve had a strong response, especially for 'Red-Eye' slots, which are nearly fully booked,” Dhoke added.
Advantages Driving Demand for 'Red-Eye' Flights:
Saves passengers the cost of an overnight hotel stay.
Travelers can complete their journeys within the day and return home.
Fares for night flights are typically around 40% lower than daytime flights.
Reduces the likelihood of encountering major traffic congestion in Pune or other large cities.