Tag Archives: Mumbai Airport

Mumbai Airport runways to shut for 6hrs on May 9 for maintenance

Mumbai International airport’s two runways will be closed for six hours on May 9 to carry out pre-monsoon maintenance work.

The two runways will be closed for six hours from 1100 to 1700 hours MIAL (Mumbai International Airport Ltd) said in a release on Monday.

“As part of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport’s (CSMIA) monsoon contingency plan, the primary runway 09/27 and the secondary runway 14/32 will remain temporarily non-operational on 9th May 2024, for pre-monsoon maintenance and repair work,” the release said.

A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) has already been issued to airlines and other stakeholders in December to plan rescheduling of flights ahead of time.

“Hence, maintenance and repair work of the runway will not impact any flight movement or cause inconvenience to its passengers,” the release said.

The airport has a network of runways, taxiways and aprons encompassing nearly 1,033 acres.

The annual runway maintenance work involves inspection of the runway surface for micro texture and macro texture wear and tear that may have occurred due to day-to-day operations and help strengthen the airside strip, as per the release.

The airport handles around 950 flight movements per day. The runway 09/27 spans 3,448 m x 60 m, and runway 14/32 spans 2,871 m x 45 m. (Source: PTI)

 

GBTA foresees India among Top 10 global business travel markets; plans Chapter opening by 2024

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is set to expand its footprint in the Asia Pacific region, with a particular focus on India, China, Japan, and Australia.

During her first-ever visit to India for the FCM Corporate Travel Summit, Elle Ng-Darmawan, Regional Director – APAC, GBTA, shared insights on the association’s plans, stating, “We are actively considering opening Chapters in India, China, Japan, and Australia to address the diverse dynamics in these key markets.”

Ng-Darmawan highlighted the goal of these chapters, saying, “Our aim is to foster community, learning and advocacy, to elevate the business travel experience in this vibrant region.” The intention is to collaborate closely with business travel professionals in these markets, fostering meaningful connections and collectively shape the on the future of business travel.

She underscored GBTA’s commitment to the Asia Pacific region, recognising it as the largest global hub for business travel movement. She stated, “We are committed to support education and continue to bring research insights from the GBTA Academy to share global insights, best practices to advance the region’s Business Travel landscape.”

Expressing confidence in India’s business travel potential, Ng-Darmawan stated, “As noted from GBTA’s outlook on India, India is currently ranked 9th among Top 10 markets globally for Business Travel spends and we expect India’s position to rise within the next 3 years.”

She attributed this positive outlook to India’s successful G20 Presidency in 2023, noting, “The world got a closer look at the preparedness of the destination to host large-scale events.” She cited examples such as the seamless passenger movement at Mumbai Airport, expanded airport capacity, contributing to advancements in infrastructure and connectivity to welcome global visitors.

As GBTA gears up to open country-specific chapters in Asia Pacific, the association aims to play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of business travel in India and other key Asia Pacific markets. Ng-Darmawan’s comments highlight the association’s commitment to support knowledge exchange, and enhance awareness of industry best practices in the world’s fastest growing region business travel.

 

Mumbai airport ends night curfew, for wider charter operations

 

In a favorable measure for commercial jet and private airline operators, Mumbai Airport has eased the previous two-hour nighttime restriction that prohibited operations between 9:15 PM and 11:15 PM. Announced on Tuesday via an official notice, this relaxation modifies the limitations such that constraints now solely affect business jets during morning hours from 8 AM to 10 AM and evening hours from 5 PM to 7:30 PM.

Flights transporting Very Important Persons (VVIPs) remain exempt from these rules. This move comes after recent changes extended the duration of restricted operation times for business jets from four to eight hours per day, which had been met with opposition from charter firms.

Additionally, alongside increasing operational limits, daily slot allocations for takeoffs and landings decreased—from 46 to 44 during busy periods and further reduced from 44 to 42 outside those high traffic windows. Such adjustments aimed to alleviate overcrowding and minimize delay issues but led to approximately forty canceled flights every day.
Mumbai airport ends night curfew, opening door for wider charter operations

RK Bali, managing director of the Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA), expressed approval regarding the government’s choice to lift extra restraints imposed upon corporate planes operating out of Mumbai. He emphasised how acknowledging the sector’s contribution towards economic growth aligns well with fostering better national connections. Furthermore, Bali highlighted BAOA’s dedication toward collaborating closely with both public authorities and relevant industries as they address existing structural difficulties within India’s civil aviation landscape.

30 flights grounded daily as Mumbai airport struggles with congestion

 

Indian airlines are cancelling 30 flights per day until March 30, following a directive from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to the Mumbai airport aimed at alleviating runway congestion. Government officials note that this accounts for approximately 3% of the daily flights handled by the Mumbai airport, which manages 1000 movements a day. Even with these cancellations, the airport is expected to operate at full capacity. Akasa Air has announced the cancellation of 90 Mumbai flights until the end of the next month. SpiceJet has confirmed compliance with the government’s directive without specifying the number of canceled flights. A senior executive from a major Indian carrier mentioned ongoing discussions with Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) regarding potentially canceling hundreds of flights, though the exact number is yet to be finalised.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has instructed Adani Group-operated Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) to reduce flights due to runway congestion, impacting airlines’ punctuality. The ministry attributes the persistent congestion to factors such as excessive slot distribution with limited time margins by the airport operator, airlines’ non-adherence to slots, and non-scheduled operations during peak hours. MIAL, responsible for slot management, should have proactively regulated air traffic movements, but the Ministry of Civil Aviation had to intervene due to the lack of such measures. Akasa Air and SpiceJet operate approximately 54 and 34 flights per day, respectively, to and from Mumbai airport, while larger airlines like IndiGo and Air India handle around 370 and 163 daily flights to and from the same airport.

MIAL, Air India, AIX Connect, Vistara, and IndiGo did not respond to requests for statements on the matter, as reported by the newspaper.

A spokesperson from Akasa Air acknowledged that the airline’s flight operations to and from Mumbai would be affected due to the implementation of guidelines aimed at reducing runway congestion. The spokesperson stated, “In light of this impact, we find it necessary to rationalise our network, leading to the cancellation of flights QP 1374 (Mumbai to Bengaluru) & QP 1362 (Bengaluru to Mumbai) between February 15 to March 30, 2024.” These two daily services result in the cancellation of 90 flights by Akasa during this period.

The spokesperson further mentioned proactive communication with affected passengers, offering options for rebooking at no additional cost or obtaining a full refund. Passengers are allowed to rebook for any date until April 15, 2024. Akasa Care Agents are actively assisting passengers to minimize inconvenience, and the airport services team is prepared to assist passengers on the ground as needed.

Mumbai Airport Takes Off with Fewer Flights to Ease Congestion and Delays

 

Facing growing congestion and flight delays, the Indian government has directed Mumbai airport to streamline its operations by reducing scheduled flights and restricting business jet movements during peak hours. This move, impacting around 40 flights and private jet operations, aims to improve on-time departures and enhance passenger experience.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) instructed the airport to decrease aircraft movements from 46 to 44 per hour during rush hour, from 44 to 42 per hour during non-peak hours.

IndiGo, the busiest carrier, will reduce 18 flights.Air India group, including Vistara, will cut 17 flights.While this may inconvenience some travellers, the changes are expected to reduce congestion and delays, ensuring smoother air traffic flow.

It would improve on-time departures, minimising waiting times for passengers and enhance overall airport efficiency, benefitting travelers and airlines alike.

This initiative aims to strengthen Mumbai’s position as a key aviation hub and provide a more reliable and efficient air travel experience for all.

In an effort to combat skyrocketing congestion and improve on-time performance, Mumbai airport has been ordered to reduce scheduled flights and restrict business jet operations during peak hours. This move, aimed at boosting efficiency and minimizing delays, has sparked opposition from major corporate groups who rely heavily on these private jets.

Mumbai airport, owned by the Adani Group, stands second busiest in India behind Delhi, renowned for its high volume of business jet traffic.

It operates the most flights among all single-runway airports and reached a record high of 4.88 million passengers in December 2023.

Airlines are exceeding the airport’s peak handling capacity, leading to ground congestion and delays. Parking stands and runway availability are insufficient to accommodate the increased traffic. Government and business jets add to the chaos, impacting scheduled flights.

Airports need to factor in unforeseen circumstances when predicting peak hour capacity.

Sudden cancellations hurt their ability to redeploy aircraft, resulting in losses and compensation costs. New restrictions significantly hamper their operations, impacting Mumbai’s commercial hub status.

Asking airports to consider unforeseen circumstances in peak hour forecasts. Advocating for better coordination between airlines and ground operations and mandating additions of new flights to be based on passenger handling capacity at security checkpoints.

Balancing the aviation boom with infrastructure limitations is crucial to ensure smooth operations and passenger satisfaction.

Collaborative efforts among airlines, airports, and regulators are needed to find sustainable solutions.

Mumbai Airport to temporarily shut down runways on Oct 17 for maintenance

The Mumbai International Airport, also known as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), has announced that both their runaways will be shut down for post-monsoon maintenance work on October 17. Issuing a statement, the airport authorities said that the maintenance activities will take place from 11 am to 5 pm.

“As a part of CSMIA’s comprehensive post-monsoon runaway maintenance plan, both runways – RWY 09/27, and RWY 14/32 will be temporarily non-operational on October 17. This scheduled temporary closure is a part of CSMIA’s annual post-monsoon preventive maintenance plan. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has also been duly issued in this regard six months in advance,” CSMIA spokesperson said in a statement.

According to the authorities, the primary objective of the scheduled temporary closure is to undertake repair and maintenance activities which are essential to uphold the airport’s infrastructure to the highest standards.
“This yearly practice of runway maintenance post monsoons is a part of the series of activities undertaken with precision and meticulous efforts ensuring operational continuity and passenger safety, thus bringing to life to vision of imbibing passenger first approach at the core of our operations,” it said.