Pune Airport Chaos: VIP Visits Block Exits, Flyers Stranded

As of November 1st, 2025, Pune Airport is facing a persistent issue with frequent VIP and VVIP visits disrupting the flow of traffic and causing chaos for flyers. According to AeroMall vice-president YS Rajput, whenever there is VIP movement at the airport, both exit gates are blocked until the VIP has left the area, often for over 30 minutes at a time.

This blockage results in a major traffic problem, as passengers arriving on flights continue to go to the cab pickup point, rapidly choking the exits. Once the blocks are lifted, all the vehicles try to get out at once, leading to at least an hour of complete gridlock on the roads around the airport.

Flyers have expressed their frustration with the situation, with one traveler from Bengaluru saying he spent almost 45 minutes just at the AeroMall cab pickup point due to the congestion. Another frequent Pune visitor from Delhi noted that airports in other major cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru have a much simpler entry and exit process, while Pune remains a pain point for travelers.

Authorities are now planning to meet with senior police officers to find a solution to this ongoing problem. AeroMall's Rajput suggested that if the police and administration can keep one of the exits (towards Symbiosis College Road) open during VIP movements, it could help alleviate the traffic issues to some extent.