Capacity constraints and limited availability of ad-hoc slots at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) are accelerating the shift of dedicated cargo operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
The transition is gaining momentum this month as CSMIA carries out major airside infrastructure upgrades. Dedicated freighter operations at Mumbai airport have been temporarily restricted during the works, while passenger flights and belly-cargo services continue. The restrictions are expected to remain until May 2027.
NMIA is emerging as the primary alternative for dedicated freighter operators. The airport is targeting a complete shift of dedicated freighter operations from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai by August 26, with several international carriers either already relocating services or preparing to do so.
NMIA handled its first dedicated international freighter on August 16, when Hong Kong Air Cargo operated an Airbus A330-200F flight from Hong Kong. The carrier is scheduled to operate three weekly services between Hong Kong and Navi Mumbai, translating into six weekly cargo movements. Each flight can carry approximately 60 tonnes of import and export cargo.
The Hong Kong service followed NMIA’s first dedicated freighter operation, when IndiGo Cargo flew to Sharjah carrying around 20 tonnes of goods. The airport had earlier begun international passenger services with an Air India Express flight to Abu Dhabi on July 15.
As part of its cargo expansion, NMIA is expected to receive 13 new international freighter services. Proposed destinations include Chengdu, Bangkok, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Dubai, Amsterdam, Bahrain, Paris and Riyadh.
The relocation involves more than shifting aircraft. Cargo operators must reorganise ground handling, customs clearance, trucking, freight-forwarding networks and staff deployment at the new airport.
Navi Mumbai International Airport is developing cargo facilities in phases, including infrastructure for domestic shipments, international express cargo and specialised freight. The airport aims to establish itself as a major logistics gateway for Maharashtra and western India.
With CSMIA’s freighter restrictions continuing during its infrastructure works and NMIA rapidly expanding its international cargo network, Mumbai’s air freight operations are undergoing a significant redistribution. Slot availability and operating capacity are increasingly influencing where dedicated cargo airlines base their services.
Source: Prop News Time
