Stories
Airlines Demand Proof of Consultations Amid Standoff Over Mumbai Airport Slot Cuts
- •The Civil Aviation Ministry has stepped in to mediate a standoff between Adani Airports and airlines over a proposed 33 percent reduction in international operations at Mumbai T2, scheduling a key meeting for October 6.
- •Airlines are challenging Adani Airports' claim of extensive consultations since 2020, demanding meeting minutes, consultation records, and documented outcomes to substantiate the claim.
- •Carriers are seeking total clarity on what the 33 percent reduction represents, requesting methodology details, capacity assessments, and month-wise actual capacity utilisation for T1 and T2.
- •Adani Airports maintains that the temporary transition and capacity freeing at T2 are crucial for the phased redevelopment of Terminal 1 and safety concerns, offering incentives at Navi Mumbai International Airport as an alternative.
- •Airlines emphasize that while they support T1 redevelopment, they oppose unilateral actions and demand transparent stakeholder consultation before any changes disrupt their planned winter schedules.
Key Questions Answered
Airlines are challenging Adani Airports' claim of extensive consultations since 2020 because that timeline coincided with the Covid period and Adani only took over Mumbai airport operations in 2021. Carriers are demanding meeting minutes and records to substantiate these claims before any operational changes are made.
Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) informed airlines that 265 of the 770 weekly international departure slots at Terminal 2 will be temporarily discontinued starting October 25 to accommodate the phased redevelopment of Terminal 1. Airlines are seeking clarity on whether this figure represents flights, slots, or passenger capacity and want an objective capacity assessment.
Adani Airports has proposed temporarily relocating operations to Navi Mumbai with incentives like a 100% discount on landing fees for new international flights and cash vouchers for passenger fees. However, airlines state that these incentives fail to address their core concerns regarding the T1 redevelopment plan, capacity assessments, and operational transition frameworks.
