Pune Airport to remain close for 15 days from Oct 15; IAF says vaccines will be airlifted to Mumbai

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) defence airfield of Pune, which has a civil enclave for passenger scheduled flights, will remain close for 15 days starting from the night of October 15 for runway re-carpeting. Airlines have urged reconsidering the shut down in the peak festive period — from Dussehra to just before Diwali.

IAF says there is an “urgent need” to re-carpet the runway and this job was deferred earlier this summer to ensure vaccine supply from the city housing Serum Institute of India that makes Covishield. These critical jabs will continue to be airlifted from Pune to Mumbai by “suitable assets” (meaning helicopters) during the airport closure period “to ensure uninterrupted supply chain,” IAF has assured.