Flyers arriving at Pune airport just before NOTAM hours find it increasingly difficult to get cabs

Pune: Passengers arriving at the city airport just before the daily NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) period are increasingly struggling to find cabs, with several flyers claiming that the problem has worsened over the last month.

Last week, Hinjewadi resident Kaushik Pattanaik landed in Pune from Goa around 8.10am and reached the AeroMall by 8.50am. What followed was a frustrating wait. “There were no cabs from any aggregator at the airport. I tried booking through the apps, but rides were not getting confirmed. Since I had two large suitcases, taking a prepaid autorickshaw was not practical. I waited for nearly 30 minutes before dragging my luggage out of the airport and finding a cab near Symbiosis College Road,” he told TOI.

At Pune airport, commercial flight operations remain suspended from 9am to 11.30am on weekdays and Sundays due to military activity of the Air Force Station nearby, for which the NOTAM is issued. On Saturdays, flights halt from 11am to 4pm to accommodate Sukhoi fighter jet sorties. Before the NOTAM period begins, four flights land between 7.55am and 8.20am at Pune airport; after the pause, commercial operations resume only around 11.35am.

Passengers said that most cabbies are aware of these timings and expecting no business, stay away from the facility. However, this affects the ease of commute of passengers arriving just before the temporary suspension of commercial flights. One such flyer, choosing anonymity, further explained, “Even the last cab drop-offs for the passengers flying out of the airport usually happen at least one-and-a-half hours before the last flight out before NOTAM, as per check-in protocols. The last arriving flight before NOTAM lands a bit later. By this time, the cabbies do not linger.”

Gokul P. Menon, who landed in Pune around 8am last week, shared a similar experience on social media. “I realised there were hardly any cabs available as the next incoming flight was hours away. The few cabs present were quoting nearly Rs1,000 to Undri, despite not being premium vehicles. I ended up walking almost a kilometre with my luggage to find a ride. Getting a cab from Pune railway station is easier,” he wrote.

Another flyer, Ashutosh Birajdar, faced a similar situation last month while travelling with his family. “I could not leave the airport area looking for a cab as we had a lot of luggage. We waited for almost an hour at AeroMall before a driver finally accepted the ride. Even then, he insisted that I come outside the airport premises and charged Rs100 extra for a trip to Kalyaninagar. He told me cabs generally avoid the airport between 8am and noon,” Birajdar said.

AeroMall vice-president YS Rajput claimed that the incidents may be isolated, but acknowledged that some cab drivers avoid the airport during NOTAM hours. “It is true that some cabs do not come to AeroMall during the NOTAM period. However, cabs are generally available. We will examine whether such incidents have become frequent. Passengers also have access to other public transport options, including buses connecting to Metro stations and autorickshaws,” Rajput said.

Ironically, autorickshaw operators said they too are struggling. “Most flyers arrive with substantial luggage and prefer cabs. Business has been poor and many of us are finding it difficult,” said Prakash Rajguru, president of the LV Antaral Autorickshaw Sanghatna, which operates the airport’s prepaid auto service.

Cab drivers attribute the trend partly to rising fuel costs. Keshav Kshirsagar, president of the Indian Gig Workers Front, said drivers now prefer continuous city trips over waiting at the airport during periods of low passenger movement. “Earlier, many cab drivers would wait and relax at the airport during the NOTAM period. With CNG prices rising, that has changed. Drivers now focus on making back-to-back trips across the city to maximise earnings. For most of them, waiting near the airport when there are no incoming flights makes little economic sense. They usually start returning only after 11.30am, when regular flight operations resume,” he said.