Mumbai’s primary international airport will suspend all runway movements for six hours on 20 November as part of a planned maintenance programme aimed at strengthening safety and operational reliability. The shutdown, scheduled from 11 am to 5 pm, is intended to support essential repair work and ensure the facility continues to meet global aviation standards at a time when the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is preparing for a dual-airport ecosystem.
According to airport officials, advance communication was issued through a Notice to Airmen, enabling airlines and ground operations teams to reorganise schedules and minimise disruption for passengers. The airport, which handles close to a thousand daily flights across its intersecting runways, typically undertakes coordinated maintenance blocks twice a year to manage wear and tear on its heavily used airfield infrastructure. Officials added that such interventions are critical for sustaining long-term safety performance, particularly in dense urban regions where expansion opportunities are limited. The maintenance programme will include structural inspections, surface strengthening, and upgrades to critical lighting and drainage systems. Aviation experts noted that climate resilience has become increasingly important for airports in coastal cities. Improved drainage capacity, they added, helps reduce operational risks during intense rainfall events — a recurring challenge in Mumbai’s monsoon months. Strengthened runway lighting also supports better night-time visibility and safer landings during periods of low visibility.
The temporary halt comes at a pivotal moment for regional air mobility, with Navi Mumbai International Airport set to begin commercial operations on 25 December. The new airport, designed as a second hub for the metropolitan region, will initially operate 12 hours a day and handle up to 120 aircraft movements. Officials associated with the project highlighted that the phased launch will help distribute passenger loads more equitably and ease pressure on the congested Mumbai airport. The Navi Mumbai facility, built on a 1,160-hectare site, features a single runway and a terminal designed to serve 20 million passengers annually in its first phase. While flight operations will be limited to daytime initially, the airport is expected to begin round-the-clock services from February 2026, expanding its capacity to 34 scheduled departures. Industry observers view this transition as a major milestone in rebalancing urban mobility demands across the metropolitan region and improving long-term sustainability in aviation planning.
Urban planners argue that the development of a multi-airport system can strengthen regional connectivity while reducing stress on densely built-up neighbourhoods surrounding Mumbai’s existing airport. By distributing air traffic more effectively, the region can work toward a more inclusive and environmentally responsive transport network. The coordinated maintenance work and the upcoming operational launch of the Navi Mumbai airport together signal an important shift toward resilience-focused aviation infrastructure that supports the needs of India’s financial capital.
Mumbai Airport To Shut Both Runways For Six Hours On 20 November 2025
