Pune is a city in permanent acceleration — India’s eighth-largest urban agglomeration, the second-largest in Maharashtra after Mumbai, home to the Hinjewadi and Kharadi IT corridors, one of the country’s densest concentrations of engineering colleges, the Indian Army’s Southern Command, and a manufacturing ecosystem anchored by Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, and multinational automotive and pharmaceutical companies. Pune Airport — officially Pune International Airport, universally known as Lohegaon Airport — serves all of this from a civil enclave on the western side of Lohegaon Air Force Station, approximately 10 kilometres northeast of the city centre. It carried IATA code PNQ and ICAO code VAPO, handled 1.04 crore passengers in 2024–25, ranked ninth-busiest in India, and was awarded the ACI Airport Service Quality top rank for airports in the 5–15 million passenger category globally — with a near-perfect score of 4.96 out of 5 in Q3 and Q4 of 2025.
Quick Overview: Pune Airport
| Detail | Information |
| Official Name | Pune International Airport (also: Lohegaon Airport) |
| Location | Lohegaon, Pune, Maharashtra – 411032 |
| Airport Type | Public/Military — Customs Airport (civil enclave at IAF Lohegaon) |
| IATA Code | PNQ |
| ICAO Code | VAPO |
| Owner | Indian Air Force |
| Operator | Airports Authority of India (AAI) |
| Proposed Rename | Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Airport (state government approved) |
| Established | 1939 (RAF Poona) |
| International Status | 2005 |
| Terminals | 2 (integrated building handling domestic + international) |
| Expansion (Aug 2025) | ₹100 crore; 5 new aircraft bays + cargo terminal (13 acres from IAF) |
| Old Terminal Redevelopment | ₹25 crore (May 2025); adds 6,000 sq. metres |
| Elevation | 592 m / 1,942 ft AMSL |
| Coordinates | 18°34′56″N, 73°55′11″E |
| Distance from City Centre | ~10 km northeast |
| Distance from Hinjewadi IT Park | ~22 km |
| Passengers (2024–25) | 1,04,57,694 (+9.8% YoY) |
| Aircraft Movements (2024–25) | 68,830 (+7.5% YoY) |
| Cargo Tonnage (2024–25) | 42,293 tonnes (+11.8% YoY) |
| ACI-ASQ Award | 1st globally, 5–15M passengers category (Q3–Q4 2025) |
| Airlines | IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, Air India Express, SpiceJet, Star Air |
| Future Airport | Purandar Greenfield Airport (~40 km southeast; in planning) |
Pune Airport Location: Lohegaon, Northeast of the City
Pune Airport is located in Lohegaon, approximately 10 kilometres northeast of Pune’s historical district and city centre (Shivajinagar, Deccan). The airport address is Civil Terminal Building, Lohegaon Airport, Pune 411032. The elevation is 592 metres above sea level — the consistent Deccan plateau altitude that gives Pune its pleasant climate year-round.
Lohegaon’s location in northeastern Pune places the airport conveniently for central and eastern city residents and the Kharadi and Viman Nagar IT and commercial zones (approximately 5 to 8 km). For the Hinjewadi IT corridor — Pune’s largest software park — the 22-kilometre cross-city journey is the airport’s most congestion-prone catchment, typically taking 50 to 70 minutes in peak-hour traffic. For Mumbai-based travellers, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway covers 150 km in approximately 2.5 to 3 hours, making PNQ a viable option for southwest Mumbai areas as an alternative to BOM.
The airport’s status as a civil enclave within an active IAF base (Lohegaon Air Force Station) imposes operational constraints unique in India’s top-tier airports: night curfew windows, limitations on runway expansion, and coordination with military operations. These constraints are the primary reason the Purandar greenfield airport project was conceived.
Pune Airport Code: IATA PNQ and ICAO VAPO
The IATA code is PNQ and the ICAO code is VAPO. PNQ is used across all airline booking platforms and booking apps when searching for Pune flights. VAPO places it in the VA western India block. The Maharashtra state government approved a proposal to rename the airport Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Airport — after the 17th-century Bhakti saint of Pandharpur, one of Maharashtra’s most revered spiritual figures. The central government’s confirmation of this rename was awaited as of mid-2026; the airport continues to operate as Pune International Airport / Lohegaon Airport in all booking systems.
Pune Airport Terminal: Two Terminals, Major Expansion Underway
Pune Airport operates from a single building that is functionally divided into two sections — a domestic section handling the overwhelming majority of Pune’s 1 crore+ annual passengers, and an international section with customs and immigration infrastructure. The terminal has aerobridges, 34+ check-in counters, modern baggage handling systems, FIDS (Flight Information Display Systems), and security screening lanes.
Two significant infrastructure investments were approved through 2025. In May 2025, the central government allocated ₹25 crore for redevelopment of the airport’s old terminal building, targeting completion by end of 2025 and adding approximately 6,000 square metres of usable space along with expanded check-in counters. In August 2025, AAI approved a ₹100 crore expansion project utilising approximately 13 acres of land transferred from the IAF, adding five new aircraft parking bays, one remote bay, and a dedicated cargo terminal — the cargo addition being particularly significant given Pune’s growing pharmaceutical, auto-components, and electronics export logistics.
The new Purandar Greenfield Airport — proposed approximately 40 km southeast of Pune near Purandar taluka — is in land acquisition and planning stages as of early 2026, with operational targets repeatedly revised. When completed, it will handle the bulk of Pune’s long-term commercial aviation growth, leaving Lohegaon to manage residual military-civil operations.
Pune Airport Connectivity: India’s Ninth Busiest With Gulf Access
By Air (Domestic): IndiGo is the dominant carrier with the highest frequency, connecting Pune to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Goa, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Jaipur, Indore, and Nagpur among others. Air India, Akasa Air, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Star Air also operate from PNQ. IndiGo and Star Air together dominate the Pune-Nagpur corridor. Aircraft movements of 68,830 in 2024–25 translate to approximately 188 movements daily.
By Air (International): Pune has direct international flights to Dubai (Emirates, IndiGo), Sharjah (Air Arabia), Doha (Qatar Airways), and a selection of other Gulf and Southeast Asian destinations. International status was granted in 2005 and the customs airport designation enables full import-export clearance. Cargo of 42,293 tonnes in 2024–25 (+11.8%) reflects Pune’s growing role as a manufacturing export hub.
By Road: Ola, Uber, pre-paid taxis, and PMPML city buses connect the airport to all parts of Pune. Travel time to Shivajinagar or Camp areas is 20 to 30 minutes off-peak; 45 to 60 minutes in peak traffic. Hinjewadi requires 50 to 70 minutes cross-city. PMPML bus routes A1, A5, and A6 serve the airport.
By Metro (Future): Pune Metro’s planned extension toward the airport will improve connectivity from the city centre when operational — not yet complete as of mid-2026.
Pune Airport Amenities: ACI World’s Best in Class
Pune Airport’s 4.96 out of 5 ACI-ASQ score in Q3 and Q4 of 2025 — ranking it first globally among airports in the 5 to 15 million passenger category — reflects a genuine passenger experience that competes with airports far larger in scale. Check-in counters are efficient. Security queues move quickly relative to the passenger volume. The terminal has multiple food and beverage outlets, cafes serving local Pune street food alongside standard formats, and retail shops with travel essentials and Maharashtra souvenirs. Duty-free is available for international departing passengers. Premium lounges are accessible via Priority Pass and select credit cards. Free Wi-Fi is available. Wheelchair assistance and free trolleys are provided. Medical facilities are in place.
The airport operates 24/7, enabling early-morning domestic departures and late-night international arrivals that are common for the Gulf travel pattern serving Pune’s NRI community.
FAQs: Pune Airport
Q1. What is the IATA code for Pune Airport?
The IATA code is PNQ and the ICAO code is VAPO. The airport is officially Pune International Airport, also known as Lohegaon Airport, located approximately 10 km northeast of Pune city centre.
Q2. Why is Pune Airport called Lohegaon Airport?
The airport is a civil enclave within Lohegaon Air Force Station — an active IAF base. The civilian terminal sits on the western side of the IAF facility. Lohegaon is both the suburb name and the IAF base name, which is how the airport acquired its common name.
Q3. What is the ACI Airport Service Quality award Pune Airport won?
Pune Airport ranked first globally among airports handling 5 to 15 million passengers in ACI’s Airport Service Quality survey in Q3 and Q4 of 2025, scoring 4.96 out of 5. This is one of the highest scores ever recorded in this category globally.
Q4. What new infrastructure is being built at Pune Airport?
Two projects: ₹25 crore for old terminal redevelopment (6,000 sq. metres added; target end of 2025) and ₹100 crore for five new aircraft bays, one remote bay, and a dedicated cargo terminal using 13 acres of IAF land (approved August 2025).
Q5. What is the Purandar Greenfield Airport?
A new civilian airport is proposed approximately 40 km southeast of Pune near Purandar, designed with a full-length runway not shared with any military base. It will handle Pune’s long-term commercial aviation growth once operational. Land acquisition and planning were ongoing as of early 2026 with no confirmed operational date.
