Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Mumbai stands as one of India’s busiest airports, facilitating a substantial volume of both domestic and international flights, which include military, non-scheduled, and general aviation operations.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai operates with two intersecting runways, unable to function simultaneously. This limitation results in single-runway operations, with a declared capacity of 46 aircraft movements (either arrivals or departures) per hour during High Intensity Runway Operations (HIRO) and 44 aircraft movements per hour during NON-HIRO periods.
Throughout the winter schedule of 2023, the airport has encountered frequent congestion issues. This congestion has led to aircraft hovering overhead for extended durations, causing passenger delays, increased fuel consumption, and environmental pollution.
To alleviate airspace congestion, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) issued directives on January 2, 2024, to Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The directive aimed to mitigate congestion by restricting the movements of non-scheduled flights (General Aviation) during identified peak hours (0800-1100 IST, 1700-2000 IST, and 2115-2315 IST).
Following an analysis by AAI highlighting excessive slot allocation and poor adherence as key factors contributing to traffic congestion, the Ministry took action on February 15, 2024. After evaluating the situation, they instructed the airport operator to reduce flight operations from 46 to 44 per hour during HIRO periods and from 44 to 42 per hour during other times. Additionally, two slots were allocated specifically for General Aviation aircraft. The airport operator, in collaboration with airlines, successfully implemented these measures starting from February 20, 2024. Domestic airline operators were also reminded to strictly adhere to MIAL’s allocated slots to mitigate air congestion.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
