Pune, 29 October 2025: Driven by festive demand and e-commerce shipments, Pune Airport recorded a strong surge in cargo movement during September and October 2025 compared to the same period last year, airport officials said.

According to airport data, 4,792.5 metric tonnes (MT) of cargo were handled in September 2025, a 33% jump over 3,612.2 MT in September 2024. As of October 26, the airport has already managed 4,040 MT, nearly matching the 4,309.7 MT processed in the entire month of October last year.

Auto parts made up 30% of the total cargo, followed by perishables (25%) and e-commerce goods (20%), along with postal and courier consignments, officials added.

The rise in cargo activity contrasts with a slow start to the winter flight schedule, as the airport has not yet added any new passenger routes. Sources, however, indicated that new flights are expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Tushar Sutar, general secretary of the Exim Integrated Club, attributed the growth mainly to domestic cargo. “While domestic shipments have increased, international imports and exports continue to face challenges due to limited space in narrow-bodied aircraft, which prioritize passenger baggage,” he said in talks with TOI.

Sutar added that the long-term solution lies in infrastructure expansion. “Pune Airport needs a wider, longer runway, though that decision rests beyond local authorities. Once Navi Mumbai International Airport becomes operational, exporters might prefer it for better cargo handling capacity,” he noted.