Air India grounds 55-minute Mumbai-Pune flight due to low passenger numbers!

A year after its launch, Air India has now grounded its 55-minute Pune-Mumbai flight service. The decision, attributed to persistently low passenger numbers, marks a surprising end to a route that promised a swift connection between two of India's major urban hubs. Pune Airport Director Sanjay Dhoke formally acknowledged the cessation of the flight service, attributing the decision to Air India's “commercial considerations”, reported IE.

Although a robust demand for aerial transit exists between these two major Maharashtra cities, Air India's service failed to captivate a substantial passenger base. The root of this issue lay in the poorly-timed mid-day flight itinerary, which was in contrast to the passengers' travel schedules, reportedly.

The daily Mumbai-Pune flight (AI 841) departed at 11:05 AM, arriving at 11:55 AM, and the return journey (AI 842) took off at 12:45 PM, landing at 1:35 PM. This schedule also failed to keep up with frequent international travellers, as most international flights from Mumbai operate at night.

While alternative travel options exist between Mumbai and Pune, including numerous flights and road journeys, many of these routes involve layovers, extending travel time to approximately 4-5 hours.