The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has strongly objected to Mumbai airport’s decision to reduce take-off and landing slots, warning of severe global implications.
The criticism follows Mumbai International Airport Ltd’s (MIAL) announcement last week to suspend freighter flights from August 16, citing the demolition of Terminal 1 and ongoing airside construction. John Middleton, IATA’s global head for airport slots, termed the move “deeply disappointing” and alleged that MIAL bypassed global norms and India’s own aviation guidelines. According to IATA, the airport operator failed to consult with airlines or provide advance notice before implementing permanent slot withdrawals, impacting both passenger and cargo operations. In addition to reducing winter schedule slots for West Asian carriers, MIAL plans to reassign 150 slots to the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport due to constrained capacity at the existing facility. IATA hinted that such actions could invite reciprocal measures under bilateral air service agreements.
The trade body further warned against what it called “capacity gaming” and suggested that Adani Airports, which manages both Mumbai airports, might be leveraging the situation to nudge airlines into shifting operations to Navi Mumbai. “So far there have been zero details on how MIAL will manage the capacity reduction and mitigate the impact,” the statement said. In response, MIAL refuted all allegations and outlined a series of stakeholder meetings and public hearings, including consultations led by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA). It asserted that the changes stem from a regulator-driven infrastructure upgrade and not unilateral decision-making. MIAL said the slot rebalancing is temporary and necessary for runway upgrades and parallel taxiway construction, as disclosed in AERA’s consultation papers. It stressed that decisions were transparent, discussed with stakeholders including IATA, and fully aligned with national aviation objectives. Rejecting any suggestion of coercing airlines into shifting to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), MIAL described the second airport as a long-planned national infrastructure project, independent of current operational changes. It reaffirmed that airlines retain full autonomy over routing decisions.
Calling for cooperation, MIAL urged IATA to move past “unsubstantiated assertions” and work together for India’s aviation growth. It reiterated its commitment to transparency, international best practices, and stakeholder dialogue as Mumbai’s airport network undergoes strategic expansion.
