Govt steps in to stop Adani’s Mumbai airport slot cuts
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has intervened to pause Adani Airports' plan to cut international flight slots at Mumbai's Terminal 2. The government has ordered a transition plan to be finalized by October 20 to ensure the redevelopment of Terminal 1 does not disrupt airline operations.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights the logistical challenges of airport infrastructure upgrades and the balance of power between private operators and national aviation regulators.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has stepped in to pause Adani Airports’ proposed reduction in international flight operations at Mumbai’s Terminal 2, giving airlines and the airport operator until October 20 to finalise a transition plan for the redevelopment of Terminal 1.
The intervention follows strong opposition from airlines to Mumbai International Airport Ltd’s (MIAL) plan to cut 265 of Terminal 2’s 770 weekly international departure slots from October 26. The proposed reduction, equivalent to about 34% of international departure slots, would affect 46 carriers. IndiGo faces 74 slot cuts, Air India 33, and Emirates and Etihad Airways 10 each.
MIAL said the cuts are necessary to free up Terminal 2 facilities—including check-in counters, baggage belts, gates and office space—for domestic operations shifting from Terminal 1 during its phased redevelopment. The move is aimed at accommodating around five million additional passengers annually.
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