IATA Backs Airlines Against Unilateral Capacity Cuts at Mumbai Airport

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has backed airlines opposing a proposed reduction in international flight capacity at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, calling for transparent assessments and meaningful consultation before operational changes are implemented.

The dispute follows a proposal by Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) to discontinue 265 of the terminal’s 770 weekly international departure slots from October 25, with affected operations expected to shift to Navi Mumbai International Airport. The move is linked to the planned redevelopment of Terminal 1, scheduled to begin in January 2027.

India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has asked Adani Airports to defer the proposed plan and develop a revised roadmap in consultation with airlines and other stakeholders.

IATA has emphasised that airport capacity changes should follow established slot-allocation guidelines, provide adequate advance notice and protect airlines’ operational requirements. It has also called for Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to be treated separately for slot-coordination purposes.

The development highlights the challenge of balancing airport infrastructure expansion with airline scheduling, passenger connectivity and operational continuity.

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