The phase II work will include development of a modern administrative block and new hangars. Airports Authority of India (AAI), Pune that manages the airport, has plans to create at least six hangars to enable parking for small private aircraft. The hangars will form part of the larger complex that will also house the administrative block.
Work will also include raising of a canopy along the city side of the airport terminal to provide shade to passengers and visitors. The long-pending runway extension project too is expected to begin in 2011. The existing runway measures up to 8,300ft and is expected to increase by another 1,200 to 1,300ft for a total length of over 9,500ft, post renovation. This will facilitate landing of bigger aircraft like the Airbus 330 class as compared to the Airbus 319 and 320 that currently operate.
AAI has also set aside INR30 crore ($6.63 million) for new projects while the authorities are working on some proposals by airline companies to start international flights during the underutilised night-time slots.
