Mumbai airport standoff: Govt suspends Adani airport’s plan to curtail international flights from T2 | Today’s news
The Indian government has asked Adani Airport to suspend its plan to shift some international flights from Mumbai Airport’s Terminal 2 to Navi Mumbai, temporarily easing the standoff with airlines over the switch. The move gives Mumbai’s airport operator and carriers several weeks to agree on how flights should be reallocated while Mumbai’s Terminal 1 undergoes a redevelopment.
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The decision followed a meeting in Delhi on Tuesday between the Civil Aviation Ministry, airlines and Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), which operates the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and the newly launched Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
International flight shift at Mumbai airport has been suspended
The AAHL has asked airlines to shift 33% of their international flights from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai airport or end these services by October 25. Airlines opposed the proposal, raising concerns about the operational implications of moving international services between the two airports.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has now asked AAHL to delay the proposed transition by several weeks. The ministry has also asked airlines and airport operators for a firm plan on how the transfer to Navi Mumbai should be done.
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The dispute comes at a time when AAHL is preparing to start work on the redevelopment of Terminal 1 of the Mumbai airport. The construction is expected to require changes to the airport’s existing flight operations, so redistribution of traffic between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai will be a key part of the transition.
Adani Airport, airlines to meet on October 13
The next round of talks is scheduled for October 13 at the Mumbai airport. A notice issued by the Mumbai airport director’s office said the meeting would discuss “follow-up actions” from the ministry’s meeting on Tuesday.
Another meeting is expected on October 20, when the parties involved will consider the final transition plan.
Tuesday’s meeting was chaired by Civil Aviation Minister Samir Kumar Sinha and was attended by representatives of airlines, AAHL, Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airports Authority of India (AAI), among others.
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According to officials quoted by PTI, the civil aviation minister suggested delaying the transition by a few weeks and asked both airlines and AAHL to work on a detailed plan to shift operations to Navi Mumbai.
Navi Mumbai Airport claims to handle international traffic
During the meeting, AAHL officials outlined Navi Mumbai International Airport’s readiness to handle up to 5 million international passengers annually.
The airport operator highlighted infrastructure and passenger amenities including road connectivity, in-flight catering, hotels, lounges and other support services as part of its case for moving international traffic.
AAHL also dealt with airline queries regarding the proposed transition and redevelopment of the Mumbai airport.
The meeting lasted almost 90 minutes. According to a PTI report, the discussions were constructive and stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to a coordinated transition in an effort to maintain passenger comfort and operational efficiency.
Why redevelopment of Mumbai Airport’s Terminal 1 matters
The immediate dispute over international flights is related to the massive redevelopment of the Mumbai airport.
AAHL operates both airports, allowing it to reallocate traffic as the construction changes the capacity available at the existing terminals in Mumbai. However, airlines must consider flight schedules, passenger connectivity and the operational impact of moving services between two airports.
The government’s intervention means that the October 25 deadline proposed by the AAHL is no longer an immediate trigger for the transition.
Instead, the airlines and the airport operator will use the October meetings to work out how and when international operations can be moved to Navi Mumbai.