India’s aviation landscape is witnessing a sharp contrast between rapid network expansion and constrained infrastructure, exemplified by developments in Nagpur and Pune. Air India Express has significantly broadened its domestic and Gulf connectivity, adding twice-daily Nagpur–Bengaluru flights and new services from Pune and Delhi to Abu Dhabi. Yet, Pune Airport’s limited parking bays have triggered operational delays, underscoring the tension between soaring demand and ageing infrastructure.
The launch of Nagpur–Bengaluru flights on 1 December 2025 marked a pivotal moment for the “Zero Mile City.” The twice-daily service enables same-day business travel and one-stop connections to over 29 domestic and seven international destinations via Bengaluru. Air India Express now operates approximately 60 destinations nationwide, using Bengaluru as a strategic hub with more than 530 weekly flights to secondary Indian cities and key Gulf markets. “Nagpur is being integrated into a robust point-to-hub network, supporting both business and leisure travellers,” an aviation industry expert noted.Nagpur Airport itself is undergoing a transformation under GMR Airports, which assumes operations in December 2025. Planned upgrades include a modern terminal scalable to 4 million passengers annually, cargo handling for 20,000 tonnes, and a new ATC tower, positioning the airport as a central India hub. Additional domestic routes by Akasa Air and IndiGo, alongside potential international flights, indicate Nagpur is poised to evolve into a multi-airline growth node.
Meanwhile, Pune Airport illustrates the operational pressures faced by mid-sized facilities. With an annual designed capacity of 9.5 million passengers but handling over 10.4 million in FY 2024–25, the airport’s 10 parking bays are insufficient to accommodate peak traffic. On 4 December, an on-time Air India Express flight could not access a bay, delaying the onward Pune–Indore service. IndiGo’s ongoing crew shortages and Flight Duty Time Limitations amplified congestion, resulting in multiple cancellations and extended passenger waiting times.
Industry analysts emphasise that India’s domestic air traffic continues to grow faster than airport or airline capacity. With passenger traffic rising over 10% year-on-year and mega-projects such as Navi Mumbai International Airport and investments by Adani Group aiming to expand network-wide capacity, the system is in a transitional phase. “Temporary congestion is a symptom of long-term growth, but targeted infrastructure and fleet planning can mitigate disruption,” said a senior urban planner. For travellers, the message is clear: Nagpur offers expanding connectivity and improved scheduling, while Pune requires patience amid infrastructure constraints. Both cities, however, exemplify India’s broader aviation trajectory rapid growth, increasing non-stop options, and the critical need for scalable airport infrastructure to match soaring demand.
Pune Airport Faces Severe Flight Delays Amid Rising Traffic And Parking Crunch
