Simple Flying - Gaurav Joshi
Pune's wait for long-haul flights continues.
Although Pune airport has been assigned an international status, foreign carriers have largely stayed away from the city. The primary reason for this is the airport's short runway, which cannot support widebody aircraft, which are crucial for long-haul operations.
While this isn't much of a problem for domestic flights, airlines cannot deploy larger aircraft such as the Boeing 777 or an Airbus A330 for long-distance flights into the city.
The airport's runway needs an extension of at least 1 to 1.5 km in length for a widebody to land safely. And while several proposals have been made regarding the extension, it still hasn't been done.
