MoCA asks defer shift of 265 Mumbai international slots to Navi Mumbai

Deferment of slot shift

The civil aviation ministry asked Adani Airport Holdings to defer the transfer of more than a third of Mumbai airport's international departures to Navi Mumbai. The ministry also directed the operator to submit a fresh roadmap for the redevelopment of Terminal 1 after airlines raised concerns about operational disruptions and commercial losses. MIAL had proposed withdrawing 265 of the 770 weekly international departure slots from Terminal 2 with effect from October 25, but the government decision puts that transition plan on hold.

MIAL had asked airlines to identify by October 6 the international services they were willing to temporarily discontinue or shift to Navi Mumbai.

Transition plan meetings

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has proposed delaying the transition timeline by a few weeks and is seeking airlines to submit a transition plan for moving operations from the current Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai. A consultation meeting with airlines, the airport operator and the ministry’s secretary is scheduled for October 13, with a second meeting expected in the last week of October to discuss the final plan. The October 13 meeting was attended by senior leadership of Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, Airports Authority of India, Federation of Indian Airlines and representatives of various domestic airlines.

Cargo handling problems

Challenge Group temporarily suspended its Mumbai freighter operations after determining that conditions at Navi Mumbai did not provide the reliability required to maintain service. The company cited shortages of dollies and difficulties moving cargo through warehouse processes, with approximately 1,000 tonnes of inbound cargo sitting on dollies and tying up equipment needed to unload arriving aircraft. The Brihanmumbai Customs Brokers’ Association reported flight‑checking delays exceeding 72 hours and shortages of operational personnel, loaders, forklifts, trained equipment operators and supervisors. NMIA will waive additional demurrage charges incurred after the free period through October 15.