Stories
Mumbai Airport Standoff Eases as Operator Protects Winter Schedule
- •Mumbai International Airport agreed to leave the Winter Schedule undisturbed and set aside plans to cancel 265 weekly international departure slots.
- •The standoff began after Adani Airports proposed shifting international flights and reducing capacity without consulting airlines, prompting strong pushback and IATA intervention.
- •A joint working group will be established to create a mutually agreeable transition plan for the redevelopment of Terminal 1 starting from the Summer Schedule.
- •Airlines are demanding validated capacity assessments, detailed redevelopment blueprints, and clarity on T2 expansion plans before agreeing to future shifts.
Key Questions Answered
The standoff eased following an October 13 meeting where MIAL agreed to leave airlines' Winter Schedule undisturbed and set aside plans to cancel 265 weekly international departure slots at Terminal 2. Airport operator MIAL committed to collaborating with airlines on a mutually agreeable transition plan for Terminal 1's redevelopment.
Airlines opposed the cuts because MIAL's unilateral decision was communicated too close to the already approved Winter Schedule, threatening major operational disruptions. They also challenged MIAL's passenger capacity calculations and argued that the operator failed to provide transparent justification or meaningful consultation regarding the required shifts.
The October 28 meeting will focus on evaluating whether an actual capacity shortfall exists that requires traffic changes for the Summer 2027 Schedule. Stakeholders will discuss alternative options and establish how Terminal 1's redevelopment can proceed without unnecessarily disrupting airline operations.
