Last reviewed: May 2026
Author: ATTS Operations Team
Reviewed by: ATTS Flight Support Team
Pune currently has one main operational commercial airport: Pune International Airport, also known as Lohegaon Airport or PNQ.
Table of Contents
The proposed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport at Purandar, commonly known as Purandar Airport, is planned as Pune’s future greenfield airport. However, it is not operational yet, and no commercial flights are currently operating from the Purandar site.
This guide explains how many airports Pune has today, the current role of Pune International Airport, the future purpose of Purandar Airport, and what these developments mean for travellers, businesses, and aviation operators.
Quick answer: How many airports are in Pune?
Pune has one operational commercial airport: Pune International Airport / Lohegaon Airport (PNQ).
Purandar Airport is a proposed future airport project for Pune. It is still moving through land acquisition, connectivity planning, and development stages. Until it is completed and formally opened, Pune International Airport remains the city’s main airport for passenger flights, cargo movements, private aviation, and aircraft operations.
Pune aviation snapshot
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Current operational airport | Pune International Airport / Lohegaon Airport |
| IATA / ICAO code | PNQ / VAPO |
| Airport type | Civil enclave at Lohegaon Air Force Station |
| Current role | Passenger flights, cargo, business travel, private aviation, limited international operations |
| Future airport project | Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport, Purandar |
| Purandar status | Proposed greenfield airport project |
| Main connectivity issue | Growing demand, limited expansion flexibility, and the need for long-term airport capacity |
| Operator considerations | Permits, slots, CIQ, parking, ground handling, fuel uplift, crew movement, VIP support |
Pune International Airport: The current airport serving Pune
Pune International Airport is the active airport serving Pune and the surrounding region. It is also commonly known as Lohegaon Airport because of its location at Lohegaon.
The airport supports domestic passenger flights, limited international services, cargo activity, private aviation, corporate travel, VIP movements, and special aircraft operations.
Pune Airport operates as a civil enclave at Lohegaon Air Force Station. The Airports Authority of India identifies it as Civil Enclave Pune Airport, Lohegaon, which means civil aviation operates within a military airport environment.
This makes Pune different from fully civilian airports. For travellers, it can mean congestion during busy periods. For aviation operators, it means more careful planning is required around slots, parking, ground handling, CIQ, fuel uplift, crew movement, and airport restrictions.
Why Pune Airport is important
Pune is one of India’s most important business, technology, education, defence, automotive, and manufacturing centres.
The city’s aviation demand is supported by:
Business travel
Corporate and investor movement
IT and technology-sector growth
Automotive and manufacturing activity
Education and student travel
Defence and government movement
Cargo and logistics requirements
Private aviation and VIP travel
Domestic and limited international passenger demand
For a city with Pune’s economic scale, airport connectivity is not only about passenger convenience. It also supports trade, investment, logistics, tourism, executive travel, and regional development.
Why Pune Airport is under pressure
Pune Airport has continued to handle rising passenger and business demand, but its operating environment creates natural limitations.
The pressure comes from several factors:
Growing passenger traffic
Strong corporate travel demand
Civil-military operating constraints
Limited airport land availability
Peak-hour congestion
Restricted aircraft parking
Passenger-processing pressure
Increasing private aviation demand
Growing cargo and logistics needs
Because the airport operates in a shared civil-military environment, future expansion at PNQ is more constrained than at a purpose-built greenfield airport.
This is one of the reasons Pune needs a long-term airport solution beyond the existing Lohegaon facility.
Pune Airport expansion: What is improving?
Pune Airport has been undergoing terminal and passenger-processing upgrades to support rising demand.
The new integrated terminal building became operational in 2024. It has a built-up area of about 52,000 square metres and a reported annual passenger handling capacity of around 9 million.
Further passenger-processing improvements are also being developed through an expanded Security Hold Area. Recent reports indicate that the new SHA is largely complete, with commissioning linked to equipment procurement and regulatory approvals.
These upgrades can improve passenger flow, reduce congestion, and support current airport demand. However, they do not remove the airport’s structural limitations. Pune Airport remains a civil enclave, and long-term aviation growth will still depend on broader infrastructure planning.
Purandar Airport: Pune’s proposed future airport
Purandar Airport is planned as Pune’s future greenfield airport.
Its official planned name is Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport, and it is expected to support Pune’s future passenger, cargo, business aviation, and regional connectivity needs once developed.
Purandar Airport is not operational yet. Pune International Airport remains the active airport for Pune movements.
Recent reports state that land acquisition for the proposed airport covers nearly 1,217 hectares and involves around 6,500 landowners. Compensation rates have been finalised, and acquisition procedures are moving forward.
This is an important step, but the airport still requires further land acquisition, construction, regulatory approvals, airport infrastructure development, published operating procedures, and confirmed launch timelines before it can become operational.
Why Purandar Airport matters for Pune
Purandar Airport matters because Pune needs a long-term aviation facility that can support growth beyond the limits of the existing airport.
Once developed, the proposed airport could support:
Higher passenger capacity
Expanded cargo movement
Improved international connectivity
Business aviation growth
Corporate and VIP travel
Regional access
Industrial and logistics development
Future aviation infrastructure
For Pune, Purandar Airport is not only about adding another airport. It is about creating a larger aviation platform for a city that continues to grow economically and regionally.
Road connectivity and future access
A new airport is only useful if passengers, crew, cargo, staff, and service providers can reach it efficiently.
That is why road and transport connectivity are central to the Purandar Airport project.
PMRDA lists a 61 km road connectivity plan for the proposed Purandar Airport, linking the airport area with national highways, state highways, and the Outer Ring Road.
Recent reports also state that ₹636.84 crore has been sanctioned for the Purandar airport road connectivity project, which is expected to improve access between the airport site, Pune city, and surrounding areas such as Kondhwa, Saswad, Uruli Kanchan, and Khed Shivapur.
This connectivity will be important for:
Passenger access
Cargo and logistics movement
Crew transport
VIP and business travel
Airport staff movement
Ground service providers
Industrial corridor access
Emergency and support services
Without strong surface access, even a well-built airport can be difficult to use efficiently.
What this means for travellers
For travellers, Pune’s airport development could bring both short-term improvements and long-term benefits.
Current upgrades at Pune Airport can help improve passenger movement, reduce congestion, and make the airport experience more efficient.
In the long term, Purandar Airport could provide more capacity for domestic and international services once developed.
For passengers, this may mean:
More flight options
Better route availability
Improved access to international services
Reduced pressure on the existing airport
Better regional connectivity
More convenience for business and leisure travel
Until Purandar Airport becomes operational, travellers should continue to treat Pune International Airport as the city’s main airport.
What this means for businesses
Improved aviation connectivity is important for Pune’s business ecosystem.
Pune’s industries depend on the fast movement of people, equipment, cargo, and services. Stronger airport infrastructure can support corporate travel, investor visits, export activity, time-sensitive shipments, high-value cargo, event travel, and regional development.
For companies in Pune’s IT parks, automotive hubs, manufacturing zones, defence corridors, and logistics clusters, better airport connectivity can improve access and competitiveness.
The proposed Purandar Airport could also become important for cargo, logistics, and future international connectivity if it is developed with strong surface access and supporting infrastructure.
What this means for aviation operators
For aviation operators, Pune remains a high-value but carefully managed airport environment.
Pune International Airport is operational today, but it should not be treated like a fully civilian airport with unlimited flexibility. Its civil enclave status means operators should confirm all critical ground and regulatory details before dispatch.
Operators should review:
Landing permit requirements
Overflight permit requirements, if applicable
Slot availability
Parking approval
Ground handling arrangements
CIQ timing and documentation
Fuel uplift arrangements
Crew hotel and transport
Passenger and VIP movement
Weather and monsoon risks
NOTAMs and airport restrictions
Alternate airport planning
For private aviation, charter flights, cargo movements, and special missions, early coordination is essential.
Private aviation planning at Pune Airport
Pune is an important destination for private aviation because of its corporate, industrial, technology, and VIP travel demand.
However, private jet operations at PNQ require advance planning.
Operators should not assume that long-stay parking, off-hour CIQ, last-minute handling changes, or dedicated private aviation facilities will always be available.
Key planning points include:
Confirm permits early
Request parking in advance
Pre-arrange CIQ where applicable
Confirm fuel uplift before dispatch
Coordinate ground handling with a local team
Plan crew transport and hotel arrangements
Build weather and alternate planning into the mission
Confirm VIP movement requirements before arrival
For business aviation, early coordination can reduce avoidable delays and improve the passenger experience.
How Purandar Airport could change operator planning
Once developed, Purandar Airport could change how operators plan Pune movements.
A larger greenfield airport may offer more space, stronger long-term infrastructure, improved cargo capability, better business aviation potential, and more flexible planning options than the current civil enclave environment.
For operators, this could eventually create opportunities for:
More predictable aircraft parking
Expanded private aviation handling
Improved cargo operations
Better international routing
Enhanced passenger and VIP support
Future FBO-style facilities
More flexible operational planning
However, these benefits will depend on the final airport design, published procedures, regulatory approvals, handling setup, fuel arrangements, and actual operating environment.
Until those details are confirmed, operators should continue using Pune International Airport as the active gateway and avoid making operational assumptions about Purandar.
Monsoon and operational reliability
Pune’s monsoon season can affect aviation planning, especially from June to September.
Heavy rain, reduced visibility, ATC flow restrictions, runway activity, and ground movement limitations can all create delays.
Operators planning Pune flights during the monsoon should:
Monitor METAR and TAF closely
Build extra ground-time buffers
Review alternate airports
Confirm fuel timing
Keep crew and passenger transport flexible
Stay updated on NOTAMs
Coordinate closely with the local handler
For time-sensitive missions, weather planning should be part of the first briefing, not an afterthought.
Why local coordination matters in Pune
Pune’s aviation environment requires local knowledge.
A movement that looks simple on paper can become more complex when airport restrictions, military activity, CIQ timing, parking limitations, passenger movement, fuel uplift, and crew logistics are considered together.
This is why local coordination matters.
For operators, reliable ground support helps ensure that every part of the movement is checked before the aircraft arrives.
That includes permits, slots, ground handling, fuelling, crew transport, VIP support, airport liaison, and real-time follow-up.
How ATTS supports aviation operations in Pune
ATTS supports aircraft operations across India, including Pune, with coordinated flight support solutions for airlines, charter operators, business aviation teams, cargo operators, and flight departments.
For Pune operations, ATTS can assist with:
Landing permit coordination
Overflight permit coordination
Ground handling arrangements
Fuel coordination and uplift support
CIQ coordination
Crew hotel and transport support
Passenger and VIP assistance
Airport liaison and local supervision
Weather and NOTAM monitoring
Operational follow-up before, during, and after the flight
As Pune’s aviation infrastructure develops, operators need reliable support that understands the current operating environment at PNQ and the future planning implications of Purandar Airport.
ATTS helps manage these details so aircraft movements can be planned and supported with greater confidence.
Conclusion: How many airports in Pune today?
Pune currently has one operational commercial airport: Pune International Airport / Lohegaon Airport (PNQ).
Purandar Airport is planned as Pune’s future greenfield airport, but it is not operational yet.
Together, the current airport and the proposed future airport show how Pune’s aviation infrastructure is evolving. Pune International Airport continues to serve the city today, while Purandar Airport is expected to support future growth once development, connectivity, and regulatory processes are completed.
For travellers, this means Pune’s aviation network could become more convenient and better connected over time.
For businesses, it means stronger links to markets, investors, cargo networks, and regional growth.
For aviation operators, it means planning must remain accurate, current, and locally coordinated.
For flight support in Pune and across India, contact ATTS.
Frequently asked questions
How many airports are there in Pune?
Pune currently has one main operational commercial airport: Pune International Airport / Lohegaon Airport (PNQ). Purandar Airport is proposed as Pune’s future greenfield airport, but it is not operational yet.
What is Pune’s main airport?
Pune’s main operational airport is Pune International Airport, also known as Lohegaon Airport. Its IATA code is PNQ, and its ICAO code is VAPO.
Is Purandar Airport operational?
No. Purandar Airport is not operational. It remains a proposed greenfield airport project and is still moving through land acquisition, connectivity planning, and future development stages.
Is Pune Airport a civil or military airport?
Pune Airport operates as a civil enclave at Lohegaon Air Force Station. This means civil aviation operates within an active military airport environment.
Why does Pune need Purandar Airport?
Pune needs Purandar Airport because the existing airport has long-term expansion constraints due to its civil-military setup, limited land availability, and growing passenger, cargo, and business aviation demand.
What is changing at Pune Airport?
Pune Airport has added a new integrated terminal and is progressing with passenger-processing improvements, including a larger Security Hold Area designed to ease departure congestion and improve passenger flow.
What road connectivity is planned for Purandar Airport?
A 61 km road connectivity plan is proposed to link the Purandar airport area with national highways, state highways, and Pune’s Outer Ring Road. PMRDA lists six road works under this connectivity plan, totalling 61 km.
Can private jets operate at Pune Airport?
Yes. Private jets can operate at Pune International Airport, but operators should confirm permits, parking, CIQ, ground handling, fuel uplift, crew logistics, and local supervision before dispatch.
Will Purandar Airport replace Pune Airport?
Purandar Airport is expected to serve as Pune’s future greenfield aviation gateway once developed, but Pune International Airport remains the city’s main operational airport for now.
How can ATTS support Pune operations?
ATTS supports Pune operations with permit coordination, ground handling arrangements, fuel uplift support, CIQ coordination, crew logistics, VIP assistance, airport liaison, weather monitoring, and operational supervision.