Monday, October 7, 2024 Travelers flying through Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on October 17, 2024, are likely to face significant disruptions due to a planned suspension of flight operations. The airport will halt all flights for six hours, from 11 AM to 5 PM, as part of its annual post-monsoon maintenance work on two cross runways—RWY 09/27 and RWY 14/32. While this maintenance is essential for ensuring the airport’s infrastructure remains up to global standards, the suspension is expected to cause a ripple effect of delays, rescheduling, and potential cancellations that will impact both domestic and international travelers.
The six-hour suspension of flight operations in one of India’s busiest airports will undoubtedly disrupt the travel plans of thousands of passengers. Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) six months in advance to alert airlines and passengers, and efforts have been made to coordinate flight schedules ahead of time. Despite these efforts, the sheer volume of flights that pass through Mumbai each day means that even a temporary closure will lead to widespread disruptions.
With the airport handling hundreds of flights daily, many passengers will be forced to either reschedule or endure lengthy delays. Connecting flights are particularly at risk, with travelers having to adjust plans or face missed connections. The limited time window for operations will likely lead to incr.
