Why India's Second-Largest Air Cargo Hub Will Halt Operations for 10 Months

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai is set to halt all dedicated freighter operations for a ten-month period. This suspension will run from August 2026 to May 2027. The airport operator, Adani Group-led Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), announced the decision. MIAL stated the temporary closure is necessary for major airside infrastructure upgrades. The move will significantly affect India’s air cargo supply chain.

MIAL informed aviation stakeholders in a letter dated December 11. The operator stated it explored all possible options. However, due to severe operational and space constraints, the suspension is unavoidable.

CSMIA is a vital logistics gateway. It is India's second-largest airport for air cargo handled. In the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the airport processed 890,000 tonnes of cargo. This volume accounted for nearly a quarter of India’s total air freight that year.

Scope of Critical Infrastructure Works

The dedicated freighter operations suspension is tied to three major projects. These projects are essential for future capacity and safety enhancements.

Runway and Taxiway Upgrades

• Main Runway Recarpeting: The primary runway, Runway 09/27, will undergo a full re-carpeting. This work requires the runway to be closed for most of the day.
• New Taxiway Construction: MIAL plans to build Taxiway E. This new parallel taxiway will serve the second runway (Runway 14/32). It will eliminate the need for aircraft to cross the active runway. This change will significantly boost Runway 14/32's capacity.

Apron Reconstruction

Apron G is the airport's only dedicated area for cargo planes. Freighter aircraft use it for parking, loading, and unloading. MIAL stated that Apron G is worn out and needs a complete rebuild. The apron will be shut down for the entire ten-month period. No alternative apron is feasible due to continuous passenger flight operations and limited space. The new taxiway project also requires the demolition of some existing cargo infrastructure.

Operational Constraints and Industry Impact

CSMIA is known as one of the world’s most land-constrained airports. It is the only single-runway airport globally to handle over 55 million passengers annually. This constraint limits options for managing MIAL infrastructure works without impacting operations.

This is not the first time MIAL has attempted a cargo suspension. A similar proposal in April was quickly reversed in May. That earlier plan faced strong resistance from cargo carriers and industry bodies. They warned the move would hurt Mumbai's standing as a critical logistics hub.

Air Cargo Supply Chain Challenges

The latest announcement has again drawn opposition. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged MIAL to reconsider. A prolonged shutdown at such a major hub could undermine India's air cargo supply chain India reliability.

Cargo operators, who manage about seven to eight dedicated freighter departures daily, will be forced to divert their services. This includes high-value and time-sensitive goods like pharmaceuticals and express freight. The diversion will likely shift freight to other airports. Nearby hubs like Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru may absorb the traffic.

Industry stakeholders are now looking toward the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). NMIA is scheduled to begin operations in late December 2025. It is expected to absorb some of the diverted traffic. However, logistics firms caution that relocating the established cargo ecosystem will not be a seamless transition. For more commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights.