Six-hour runway shutdown at Mumbai airport leads to soaring ticket prices

November 22, 2025 at 04:29 AM•2 min read•mid-day.com

Mumbai Airport's 6-hour shutdown ignited a fare crisis. See how some routes saw prices jump 600%.

Key Points

1Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) closed its runway for six hours for annual post-monsoon maintenance.
2Domestic flight ticket prices surged dramatically, with some routes experiencing increases of over 600% due to the operational pause.
3Last-minute bookings saw fares on routes like Mumbai-Delhi and Bengaluru-Mumbai reach up to Rs 26,000, causing financial strain for passengers.
4The airport confirmed successful completion of all maintenance, ensuring safety and compliance, despite the market disruption.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai, India, executed a scheduled six-hour runway shutdown on Thursday for its annual post-monsoon maintenance. From 11 am to 5 pm, all flight operations ceased to ensure the airport's continued safety, reliability, and compliance with global aviation standards. While the airport issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) in advance, allowing airlines and stakeholders to adjust schedules, the temporary closure triggered a dramatic surge in domestic flight ticket prices, creating significant financial strain for many passengers.

The impact on airfares was immediate and substantial across several key routes. Flights typically priced around Rs 4,000, such as Mumbai-Hyderabad, soared to Rs 17,873. A Mumbai-Delhi direct flight on SpiceJet was observed charging Rs 25,340 per seat, while Bengaluru to Mumbai fares, usually ranging from Rs 3,400-Rs 7,000, escalated to Rs 25,000. This unprecedented price hike led to situations where some domestic flights out of Mumbai cost more than international flights, prompting widespread comparison and frustration among travelers, particularly those making last-minute bookings.

Many passengers expressed unawareness of the scheduled maintenance, arriving early for flights or facing unexpected costs for urgent travel. Despite the advance notice, the operational pause caught several travelers off guard, highlighting a communication gap regarding the potential market impact. Airport sources confirmed that all maintenance work was completed properly, with thorough checks of lights, surfaces, and infrastructure, reinforcing the necessity of the exercise for preventing future accidents and ensuring operational integrity.

This event underscores the delicate balance between essential infrastructure maintenance and market dynamics in the civil aviation sector. While the shutdown was critical for long-term safety, the resulting fare volatility demonstrates the immediate and significant economic consequences for airlines and passengers when capacity is temporarily constrained in a high-demand market like Mumbai.