Pune: Geopolitical tensions, high fuel prices and operational constraints have forced many airlines to tighten their belts, with only one domestic flight added to Pune airport’s winter schedule starting this Sunday.IndiGo will operate a direct flight to Bhubaneswar, airport director Santosh Dhoke said. “Another airline will start a flight to Kolkata, but it is not a new sector. The airline has taken a slot to operate on the route during peak hours,” he told TOI. The winter schedule would run till March 27, 2027, and airport sources were optimistic that more flights would gradually be introduced.The airport is currently connected to 35 destinations.Dhoke said many airlines had shown interest in starting international flights before shelving those plans because of the ongoing conflict in West Asia. “Things look uncertain now. The closure of Dammam airport forced several Indian airlines to cancel flights to the Saudi Arabian city,” he explained, adding that airlines could reconsider if conditions improve.Pune currently has two direct international flights — IndiGo operates a flight to Dubai and Air India Express to Bangkok. SpiceJet has suspended a direct flight to Dubai, while IndiGo discontinued its Pune-Bangkok flight over “network optimisation”.Sources at the airport said high aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and consequent revision of fuel surcharges could discourage airlines from making any immediate expansion plans. “Airlines are being cautious and cutting routes to control fuel costs,” the source said.The airport has 235 allocated slots, of which 216 are occupied. Airlines have sought additional slots and Dhoke said their requests were under consideration.It’s worth noting that holding a slot does not guarantee that an airline will immediately start a flight. IndiGo and Akasa Air told TOI that there were no immediate plans to introduce more flights from Pune.Aviation expert Dhairyashil Vandekar said more than geopolitical tensions, infrastructure constraints could pose a bigger hurdle for expansion at the airport. He pointed to Pune’s dual-use airfield, the lone 2,535m runway, limited apron capacity and restricted civilian operating windows, with airlines having to accommodate military requirements. Aircraft availability and supply-chain challenges too were concerns, he said.“Pune’s subdued winter schedule may not be primarily due to the current geopolitical situation. International airspace closures can disrupt overseas operations, but their direct impact on domestic flights from Pune is generally limited,” Vandekar said.
