The Civil Aviation Ministry has put on hold a proposed 33% reduction in international flights operating from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, preventing an immediate cut in airline departures from Terminal 2 and easing concerns over Delhi-Mumbai connectivity during the upcoming festive season.
According to a report by Jagran, the ministry has allowed airlines an extension to continue their existing operations instead of ending their weekly departure slots from October 25. The decision is expected to benefit passengers travelling between Delhi and Mumbai, as well as those using Mumbai as a gateway for onward international journeys.
The Delhi-Mumbai route is among India’s busiest air corridors. Delhi airport operates an average of more than 50 to 60 direct flights to Mumbai every day, according to the report. Any significant reduction in capacity on the route could have affected both business travellers and passengers travelling during Diwali and Chhath.
The proposed reduction was linked to international flight operations from Terminal 2 at Mumbai airport. The report said airlines had informed the government that the transition timeline given by Adani Airports was not practical. Following the representations, the ministry directed Adani Airports to prepare a new transition plan in coordination with airlines, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
A joint meeting involving the airport operator, airlines, DGCA and BCAS is scheduled for October 13. The meeting is expected to address the operational arrangements required for the transition and determine how flight services can continue without an abrupt reduction in available capacity.
The proposed 33% cut had raised concerns about the effect on airfares, particularly during the festive travel period. The report said reduced seat availability could have pushed fares on the Delhi-Mumbai route up by two to three times. The ministry’s decision to defer the cut therefore provides temporary relief to passengers, although the longer-term operating arrangement will depend on the revised transition plan.
Mumbai’s aviation system is also expected to receive support from Navi Mumbai airport, where arrangements are being made to assist passengers and maintain smoother operations on the country’s most important aviation route. The report did not specify the number of flights that could be shifted or added through the new airport.
The ministry’s intervention keeps existing airline slots open beyond October 25 while the stakeholders work on a revised plan. The outcome of the October 13 meeting will indicate how Mumbai’s airport transition is to be managed and whether airlines will receive further operational extensions.
