Stories
IATA Urges Airlines to Use MoCA Guidelines in Mumbai Airport Slot Dispute
- •The International Air Transport Association wrote to affected airlines urging active participation in the October 13 stakeholder meeting with Adani Airports regarding the Mumbai Airport capacity transition.
- •Carriers have been advised to cite the Ministry of Civil Aviation 2013 Slot Allocation Guidelines, which mandate that airlines must be consulted prior to any airport capacity reduction.
- •MoCA guidelines specify that capacity reductions from previous equivalent seasons should be avoided wherever possible and must not happen without consulting operating airlines.
- •IATA advised airlines to seek alternatives before accepting flight reductions or transfers while reiterating its call to protect historic slots at Mumbai Airport.
- •IATA expressed support for Navi Mumbai airport and its additional capacity, emphasizing that the transition must be collaborative, transparent, and minimize disruption.
Key Questions Answered
IATA has written to affected airlines urging them to actively participate in the October 13 stakeholder meeting with Adani Airports regarding the capacity transition at Mumbai Airport. Furthermore, IATA has advised carriers to cite the Ministry of Civil Aviation's 2013 Slot Allocation Guidelines during these discussions.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation guidelines state that reductions in capacity from the previous equivalent season should be avoided wherever possible. Additionally, operating airlines must be consulted as soon as possible before any capacity reduction occurs, and cuts must be avoided in all but the most exceptional circumstances.
IATA supports the Navi Mumbai airport and the extra capacity it will bring, but insists that historic slots at Mumbai Airport must be protected. The association also advocates for separate slot treatments for Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, emphasizing that the transition should be transparent and collaborative.
