Pune Airport’s Upgrade: New Terminal Nears Inauguration, Testing Phase Underway
Pune, 16th December 2023: After the completion of the new terminal, set for inauguration pending Ministry of Civil Aviation approval, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to temporarily close the existing Pune Airport terminal for renovation. The AAI will conduct a six-week testing phase to ensure the functionality of the new terminal before transitioning operations.
A senior official from Pune Airport highlighted the current wait for approval from the central ministry to inaugurate the new terminal. Following the inauguration, a meticulous six-week testing period will commence, involving comprehensive system checks and approvals from national and international regulatory bodies. The goal is to prevent any operational issues once the new terminal is officially in use, with equipment suppliers, including international contributors, participating in the testing process.
Delays have been encountered as the completion deadline and inauguration dates have been rescheduled multiple times.
According to a senior Pune airport official, the new terminal is designed to accommodate 12 million passengers annually, surpassing the current terminal’s capacity of 7.1 million passengers. The existing terminal, lacking recent maintenance due to overcapacity, will be vacated and undergo renovation post-inauguration of the new terminal.
