Mumbai Airport Threatens 265 Weekly International Slot Cuts From October 25 Amid Airline Standoff

The ongoing dispute between Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) and airlines over Terminal 1 redevelopment has led to the airport operator proposing to cut 265 weekly international departure slots from Terminal 2 (T2) starting October 25, according to a report by CNBC TV-18. This reduction amounts to a 33% drop in international departure capacity at T2, rounded up to the nearest whole number, impacting 46 airlines and 770 weekly slots.

Among the affected airlines, IndiGo will face the largest reduction of 74 slots, while Air India will lose 33 slots. Other airlines, such as Akasa Air, Air India Express, SpiceJet, Emirates, and Etihad Airways, will also experience reductions in their weekly departures. MIAL has requested airlines to submit their preferred slots for temporary discontinuation by 4 pm on October 6.

If an airline fails to respond, MIAL intends to determine the affected slots based on operational, capacity, and implementation factors. The airport operator plans to relocate resources from T2 to support domestic airlines' transition to Terminal 2 during the Terminal 1 redevelopment. However, the proposed cuts have drawn criticism from international airlines, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which opposes mandatory airline relocations and seeks protection for existing slot entitlements during the transition period.