Pune International Flyers May Soon Bypass Lengthy Immigration Queues
Travelers boarding international flights from Pune Airport could soon experience significantly faster immigration processing, potentially eliminating the stressful and time-consuming queues that have become a common complaint. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol has announced plans to advocate for the implementation of the 'Fast Track Immigration' facility at the city's airport.
Government Initiative to Expedite Immigration Process
"The immigration process falls under the jurisdiction of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. We will engage in discussions with the MHA regarding the specifics to ensure Pune can also benefit from this facility in the near future," Mohol stated. This initiative follows the central government's rollout of the 'Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme' (FTI-TTP) early last year.
In September 2025, the program expanded to include five additional airports: Lucknow, Amritsar, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirapalli, and Kozhikode. This brings the total number of airports equipped with the system to thirteen, which already includes major hubs such as Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad.
How the Fast Track Immigration System Works
The FTI-TTP program is designed to facilitate quicker immigration clearance for pre-verified travelers through automated electronic gates. Eligible individuals can enroll by visiting the online portal 'ftittp.mha.gov.in', where they must complete registration by providing personal details and uploading necessary documents.
Biometric data is captured either at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or during airport transit. At the airport, registered travelers simply scan their boarding passes at the e-gate, followed by their passports. The system then authenticates biometrics at both arrival and departure points, automatically opening the gates upon successful verification.
Growing Demand and Passenger Frustrations
Currently, Pune Airport operates four direct international flights to destinations including Dubai and Bangkok, serving an average of 30,000 passengers monthly. International passenger traffic has shown remarkable growth, with 338,770 travelers recorded in 2025 compared to 205,460 in 2024—a substantial increase of approximately 65%.
Frequent flyers have expressed strong support for the new system, citing existing challenges. Sandesh Chauhan, a Koregaon Park-based businessman who travels abroad regularly, shared his experience: "I've encountered situations at this airport where only one or two immigration counters were operational, leading to significant delays. If this new system can reduce waiting times, Pune should definitely adopt it. I've seen similar systems in airports overseas, like Dubai."
Adwik Joshi, a Vimannagar resident and multinational company executive, echoed these sentiments. "Pune is rapidly expanding as an airport and ranks among the top ten busiest airports in India. This system will undoubtedly assist travelers by enabling quicker exits from the facility. Considering the duration of international flights, passengers naturally want to reach home as soon as possible after landing. My friends have frequently complained about the limited number of operational counters in the immigration area, which causes considerable frustration," Joshi explained.
Operational Challenges and Security Considerations
Airport sources highlighted additional operational complexities. After an international flight lands, it cannot vacate its parking bay until all passengers have cleared customs. "Every traveler must undergo checks and scans due to concerns about smuggling. There have been instances where smugglers attempted to conceal gold on aircraft for later retrieval during domestic segments. Even aircraft cleaning cannot proceed until authorities grant an all-clear," an official disclosed.
Pune Airport currently has ten parking bays, and it has occasionally faced issues with flights receiving delayed Air Traffic Control clearance for landing due to bay unavailability. The introduction of Fast Track Immigration could help alleviate some of these congestion-related problems by streamlining passenger processing.
The potential implementation of Fast Track Immigration at Pune Airport represents a significant step toward enhancing passenger experience and operational efficiency. As international travel continues to grow, such advancements are increasingly vital for meeting the demands of modern air travel.
