News / More concerns from IATA as freighter ban looms at Mumbai Airport

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A near-year-long freighter slot suspension at Mumbai International Airport (MIAL), from August until May 2027, has again drawn flak from IATA..

It hit out at a rescheduled timeline for multiple infrastructure upgrade projects by terminal operator Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL), after shelving a mid-2025 suspension plan following widespread industry pushback, including from IATA.

The airline group said the prolonged suspension could have a material impact on cargo operations out of the busy hub, adding: “Effective engagement by MIAL with industry stakeholders is critical.”

IATA also claimed MIAL had taken no heed of concerns and suggestions communicated earlier, particularly concerning best business practice compliance in line with guidelines laid down by the Worldwide Airport Slot Board.

“We have yet to receive a response from MIAL,” it noted.

The infrastructure improvement plans at Mumbai include re-carpeting the main runway and developing a new parallel taxiway, according to available information.

MIAL had told stakeholders operational limitations at Mumbai had presented no feasible alternative to a temporary freighter closure in order to facilitate the expansion development.

Nearly a quarter of India’s air cargo moves via Mumbai Airport, so freighter service disruption will result in capacity repercussions amid growing volumes, sources believe.

MIAL handled some 693,000 tonnes of shipments in the first three quarters (April-December) of fiscal year 2025-26, with international volumes up 17%, data shows.

Vineet Malhotra, co-founder and director at Mumbai-based Kale Logistics Solutions, echoed concerns over trade pain points.

“The concerns raised by IATA regarding potential cargo disruptions at Mumbai underline the importance of carefully managing this transition phase,” he told The Loadstar. “As infrastructure upgrades progress, it is equally critical to accelerate operational readiness and digital integration at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) to ensure seamless cargo migration and capacity optimisation.”

The MIAL freighter suspension announcement was, apparently, timed to coincide with the commissioning of NMIA, also an Adani terminal, outside Mumbai City, but cargo infrastructure and related trade systems there remain a ‘work-in-progress’ for full flow operations.

The Navi Mumbai integrated air cargo terminal features some 36,000 sq metres of space for domestic cargo and some 25,500 sq metres for international cargo, with Phase 1 capacity estimated at some 800,000 tonnes annually.