Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will temporarily suspend flight operations for six hours on 20 November, as both its runways undergo essential post-monsoon maintenance. The planned closure — between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. — will allow teams to carry out technical inspections and safety upgrades, ensuring the airport’s operational efficiency and resilience ahead of the peak travel season.
According to airport authorities, this biannual exercise is a pre-scheduled safety protocol, planned well in advance to prevent last-minute disruptions. Airlines have already been informed through a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), enabling them to adjust flight schedules and minimise inconvenience to passengers. The maintenance work will focus on runway surface inspection, re-carpeting, drainage assessment, and repairs to runway lighting and markings. These upgrades are critical for enhancing aircraft braking efficiency and ensuring safe take-offs and landings, especially following Mumbai’s intense monsoon season, which often affects surface conditions.
Airport officials stated that the work was planned six months in advance in consultation with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The exercise reflects a growing emphasis on predictive maintenance—using planned downtime to avoid larger operational risks during busy flight periods. Industry experts noted that such temporary closures are a standard practice at major global airports, particularly in cities with challenging weather patterns. “Runway integrity is central to passenger safety. Planned closures like this indicate a disciplined maintenance culture,” said an aviation consultant.
The CSMIA, which handles more than 900 flight movements daily, operates two intersecting runways — 09/27 and 14/32 — that handle both domestic and international traffic. During the six-hour shutdown, airlines have been asked to either reschedule or reroute their flights to nearby airports such as Pune or Ahmedabad if necessary. The airport has also urged passengers to check revised flight timings before travelling on the day of closure to avoid inconvenience. Once completed, the inspection and upgrades will help the airport maintain world-class safety and operational standards, while improving drainage and sustainability measures to withstand extreme rainfall events more effectively.
The post-monsoon maintenance aligns with Mumbai’s broader urban resilience goals, focusing on climate-adaptive infrastructure and reliable public mobility systems in one of the world’s busiest coastal cities.
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