Stories
Mumbai Airport Row: Why 265 International Flights Face Cuts Amid Redevelopment Plans
- •Mumbai International Airport Ltd has proposed temporarily discontinuing 265 out of 770 weekly international departure slots starting October 25 to accommodate domestic flights displaced by Terminal 1 redevelopment.
- •The 33 percent reduction in international flights will impact major carriers like IndiGo and Air India, drawing strong opposition from the International Air Transport Association.
- •Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray criticized the move, alleging that the government is deliberately trying to weaken Mumbai's global connectivity and economic hub status.
- •The Civil Aviation Ministry is set to mediate discussions between airlines and the airport operator to address concerns regarding the timing and implementation of the schedule changes.
- •Airport operators defend the plan by citing safety concerns and aging infrastructure at Terminal 1, assuring that 91 percent of passenger traffic will remain unaffected during the upgrade.
Key Questions Answered
Mumbai International Airport Ltd has proposed temporarily discontinuing 265 weekly international departures to free up capacity at Terminal 2. This spare capacity is needed to accommodate domestic flights displaced by the phased redevelopment of the six-decade-old Terminal 1.
Both Indian and foreign carriers operating from Terminal 2 are affected, with IndiGo facing the largest reduction at 74 out of its 224 weekly international departures. Air India will lose 33 of its 100 weekly departures, alongside cuts impacting Air India Express, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray alleged that the BJP-led government is deliberately trying to weaken Mumbai's international connectivity and undermine its status as a global economic hub. He claimed that reducing international capacity fits a broader trend of financial and commercial activity moving away from Mumbai.
