While Pune Airport’s new terminal building is operational, not all flight operations have been shifted from the old terminal yet, which has caused a series of inconveniences to flyers, catching connecting flights. Read on to learn how this situation has exhausted passengers due to the long commute between the new and old terminals.
Arrivals At Pune Airport Exhausted With Terminal Switch For Connecting Flights
A report by Hindustan Times (HT) throws light on the menace of a commute needed to switch terminals at Pune International Airport. Since all flight operations haven’t yet been shifted to the new terminal, passengers catching connecting flights need to switch terminals for the same. Many a time, passengers arriving at the new terminal of Pune Airport need to walk all the way to the new Aero Mall to board a cab to the old terminal. Is this the most unfriendly airport to date?
#Pune Airport New Terminal.
Finally opening today. pic.twitter.com/H6K2qdqMa6— Chandrashekhar Dhage (@cbdhage) March 10, 2024
A flyer, Jerin Jarad stated to HT that their IndiGo flight on October 14 was the worst experience ever. Recollecting their experience, Jarad said that the Delhi to Bengaluru flight, with a stopover in Pune, had no prior information about terminal switches. Passengers were not given any guidance at Pune Airport and the security check was way too long.
Yogesh Goel, another flyer, while calling Pune Airport’s new terminal “beautiful” found the whole experience “pathetic”. He said the arriving passengers had to walk around 1 km to reach the adjoining mall to catch a cab to the old terminal. Goel, found the experience so inconvenient, lugging his heavy bags that he regrets flying to Pune.
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Long Tiring Commute From New To Old Terminal
Pune’s new Aero Mall serves as a pickup point for Ola and Uber cabs. Passengers needing to catch connecting flights must book cabs from this mall to reach the old terminal for their next flight to their destination. However, this has become one of the most passenger-unfriendly airports. Cabs ferrying passengers between Pune Airport’s new and old terminals end up causing traffic jams on the road.
Same situation at Pune airport’s new terminal. Old aged people literally give up and walk towards the cab point, which is at least 600m away from the terminal. https://t.co/AtMXny3I9R
— Bala (@Balasgurus_) September 29, 2024
Also, walking from the arrivals gate to the escalators and then inside Aero Mall is no easy feat for senior citizens and other passengers alike who are lugging handbags. Fed up, passengers are now demanding a pickup point inside the new terminal building. Vipul Alekar told HT that he wishes airport authorities would permit cabs inside the new terminal, at least for pickup. The flyer often travels from Pune Airport at night and having to walk all the way to Aero Mall is frustrating and tiring for him.
We hope Pune Airport authorities take these concerns seriously and make the commute easier for senior citizens and other flyers, catching connecting flights.
Cover Image Courtesy: @cbdhage and AAI/ X and Canva Pro
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