Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has long been known as one of India’s busiest airports, handling a significant volume of both domestic and international flights, including military, non-scheduled, and general aviation flights. However, the airport has faced challenges with congestion, particularly during the winter schedule of 2023, leading to delays, fuel wastage, and environmental pollution. In response to these issues, the Ministry of Civil Aviation directed the airport operator, Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to take measures to mitigate congestion.
Restricting movement of non-scheduled flights
On January 2, 2024, the Ministry of Civil Aviation directed MIAL and AAI to restrict the movements of non-scheduled flights, particularly general aviation, during peak hours identified as 0800-1100 IST, 1700-2000 IST, and 2115-2315 IST.
An analysis conducted by AAI identified excessive slot allocation and poor slot adherence as significant contributors to traffic congestion. Subsequently, on February 15th, 2024, the MoCA directed MIAL to reduce flight operations from 46 to 44 per hour during High-Intensity Runway Operations (HIRO) periods and from 44 to 42 aircraft movements per hour during non-HIRO periods, with provisions made for two slots for general aviation aircraft.
These directives came into effect on February 20th, 2024, with domestic airline operators advised to strictly adhere to allocated slots to prevent air congestion.Air traffic improvement
The impact of these initiatives is already evident, with the air traffic situation showing improvement since February 19th, 2024. A comparison of delays before and after the implementation of measures highlights a significant reduction in delays at Mumbai airport, particularly in the category of delays exceeding 60 minutes.
The MoCA continues to closely monitor the air traffic situation at Mumbai Airport, demonstrating a commitment to reducing inconvenience for passengers and improving overall operational efficiency.
