Of the four airlines that undertake international flights from there, only SpiceJet is using the international cargo facility. Support services such as cold storages have yet to be erected. And this might well be the cause of the tepid response. Efficient cold storage facilities could really to help exporters of products such as vegetables and flowers; important goods exported from Pune and its vicinity.
The international cargo facility, which was delayed due to several issues, was finally inaugurated on June 27 last year. Airport officials had expected the cargo volume to touch 40,000 tonnes per year, starting with an average of 20 tonnes kg per day. According to the Indian Express, however, the actual cargoes shipped were much, much smaller.
Nevertheless, officials remain optimistic about the future of the facilities. “Things will pick up as more operators will join in and we will get more direct flights.”
