India pauses proposed Mumbai airport international slot changes

India’s civil aviation ministry has paused Mumbai airport operator MIAL’s proposed changes to international services at Terminal 2, asking the operator and airlines to work on a transition plan linked to Terminal 1’s redevelopment. The intervention delays the immediate implementation of the proposal while its final scope and timing remain unsettled. The ministry asked stakeholders to prepare a plan by October 20, according to reports of the discussions. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for October 13. The intervention followed a meeting in New Delhi involving ministry, airline and airport representatives. The ministry’s request gives the parties additional time to address how airport capacity and services could be managed during the redevelopment. MIAL’s proposal has been described in different ways in reports. It includes cutting 265 of Terminal 2’s 770 weekly international departure slots, affecting 46 carriers, according to the operator’s plan as reported. Other accounts describe the proposal as involving 33 international flights or about one-third of international operations.