Smoking at Pune International Airport – PNQ

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By , Author, Air Travel Writer · Updated

Yes, Pune International Airport (PNQ) has designated smoking areas, both indoor zones after security and outdoor space before it. The locations below cover the current single passenger terminal.

Departures – After Security (Airside)

Pune operates from a single integrated terminal, and the post-security smoking zones are on the upper level:

  • 1st floor, opposite the tea counter: an indoor smoking zone in the main departures hold area.
  • Near Gate 9: an indoor smoking room in the boarding-gate area, handy if you are seated toward that end of the concourse.

If you cannot spot a zone, ask your airline ground staff or the terminal information desk for the nearest one rather than relying on signage alone.

Outside the Terminal (Landside)

Before you clear security, smoking is permitted in the open air around the building:

  • Near the terminal entrance and the kerbside drop-off.
  • By the parking area and the taxi pickup zone.

This is the easiest option if you arrive early and want a cigarette before checking in and clearing the security screening.

New Terminal

A larger new integrated terminal, with roughly double the capacity of the existing facility, opened in March 2024 and has been progressively taking over operations. Designated smoking-zone positions inside the new terminal had not been formally published at the time of writing, so check the in-terminal signage or ask the information desk on arrival for the current locations.

Summary Table

AreaSmoking locationNotes
Departures (1st floor)Opposite the tea counterIndoor zone, after security
Departures (Gate 9)Indoor smoking roomAirside, near the boarding gate
LandsideEntrance, parking, taxi pickupOutdoor, before security
New terminalTo be confirmedCheck on-site signage / info desk

Heading elsewhere in Maharashtra? See our guide to smoking at Mumbai Airport (BOM). If you are flying internationally out of Pune via a Gulf hub, you may also want to know about the post-security smoking lounges at Dubai International Airport (DXB) for your connection.

For India airport smoking rules, the PECA vape ban, lighter-machine instructions, and other rules, see our India smoking guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I smoke at Pune Airport (PNQ)?

Yes. Pune International Airport has indoor smoking zones after security on the 1st floor opposite the tea counter and near Gate 9, plus outdoor space by the terminal entrance and parking before security.

Where is the smoking room after security at Pune Airport?

Yes, there are smoking zones airside. Head to the 1st-floor departures area opposite the tea counter, or to the indoor smoking room near Gate 9. Airline ground staff or the terminal information desk can point you to the closest one.

Can I smoke before security at Pune Airport?

Yes. Smoking is allowed outside the terminal building near the entrance, the parking area and the taxi pickup zone, so you can step out for a cigarette landside before you check in.

How do I use the electric lighter machine at Pune Airport (PNQ)?

Wait for the red indicator light on the wall-mounted lighter machine to turn on, then press the red button - the red light should immediately go off, signaling the heating coil is now warming up. Wait up to a minute, then peek into the small hole on top where the amber-orange coil glows, and hold your cigarette tip against it for 3 to 5 seconds to light. The most common mistake is pressing the button while the red light is off - nothing happens then. Repeat the steps if it does not work.