Mumbai Airport to Reduce Flights, Business Jet Movements Amid Congestion Woes

In a bid to alleviate congestion and improve on-time performance, the government has instructed Mumbai airport to scale back the number of scheduled flights and curb the movement of business jets, particularly during peak hours. However, this directive is expected to impact around 40 flights and disrupt operations for private jets utilized by some of the nation's prominent business conglomerates.

The Airport Authority of India, responsible for air navigation services, has mandated a reduction in aircraft movements from 46 to 44 during rush hours and from 44 to 42 during non-peak times.

This move is anticipated to compel airlines to slash approximately 40 flights starting midweek. IndiGo, holding the largest share of flights, faces a cut of 18 flights, while the Air India group, including Vistara, must trim 17. 

Simultaneously, the curfew on business jet operations has been extended from four to eight hours, triggering objections from major corporate entities such as Reliance Industries, JSW, and the Mahindra group.

Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), operated by the Adani group, refrained from commenting at the time of press.

As the second busiest airport in India after Delhi, Mumbai airport witnesses substantial business jet traffic alongside its operational challenges. December marked its highest monthly traffic of 4.88 million passengers, underscoring the urgency for congestion mitigation measures.

The decision stemmed from concerns raised by Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia regarding the declining on-time departure rates at the airport.

Senior air traffic controllers attribute the delays primarily to airline overscheduling amidst escalating air travel demand this year. They highlighted that runway capacity encompasses various factors, including infrastructure availability and aircraft turnaround time.

Furthermore, the government has urged airports to incorporate unforeseen circumstances into peak-hour capacity forecasts from the upcoming summer schedule.

However, airline network planners lamented that sudden flight cancellations hindered their ability to reallocate aircraft, resulting in financial losses and passenger compensation payouts.

Rajesh Bali, Managing Director of the Business Aircraft Operator Association, expressed concern over the additional restrictions on business jets, emphasizing their crucial role in corporate travel. He warned that such limitations could adversely affect Mumbai's status as the nation's commercial hub.

Since the COVID-19 recovery, air traffic has surged, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, exacerbating congestion issues across major airports. To address security concerns, the Aviation security regulator BCAS has stipulated that any increase in flights must align with passenger-handling capacity at security checkpoints, setting specific standards for throughput.

The government's directives aim to strike a balance between facilitating air travel growth and ensuring operational efficiency, although they face resistance from both airlines and corporate aviation stakeholders grappling with the ramifications of these measures.