The much-anticipated Navi Mumbai International Airport is set for commercial launch in March 2025. However, the airport operators are struggling to bring big airlines on board at this airport. According to reports, last year the airport operators at Navi Mumbai Airport wanted to shift flights by IndiGo or Air India to the new airport and even offered them prime slots. However, none of these airlines have so far shown any interest in shifting flights from the Mumbai International Airport to the Navi Mumbai Airport. Thus arises the big question, why are the big airlines hesitant to shift base to the new airport?
What Navi Mumbai Airport Had In Mind Regarding Big Airlines
Adani Airport Holdings, the airport operators behind Navi Mumbai Airport expressed the need to shift major airlines to the new airport in order to decongest the Mumbai International Airport. However, they are finding it extremely difficult to shift two of the major airlines – IndiGo and Air India – to the Mumbai airport to get on board.
According to the airport operators, this shift will help decongest the gridlock at the Mumbai Airport. They even offered them prime slots for operations at the new airport. The Navi Mumbai Airport is going to be massive. It holds the capacity to see 20 million passengers in Phase 1. Once open to operation, it will majorly help decongest the Mumbai Airport which sees an annual capacity of 55 million passengers.
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Why Is The Airport Struggling To Bring Big Airlines On Board?
All set for commercial operations in March 2025, the new airport is still struggling to get major airlines on board. When asked about this, IndiGo CEO, Pieter Elbers told Financial Express, “Even with the new airport, the existing airport (in Mumbai) will still serve its purpose. How precisely we orchestrate one another will have to be planned going forward.” So, while there is no clear denial, both airlines haven’t committed or agreed to start operations at the yet-to-launch airport.
Adani Airport Holdings also commented to The Financial Express. They said, “We will be able to give clarity on this when there is something concrete and agreements are signed.” According to the airport operators, if an airline agrees to operate at Navi Mumbai Airport, it “does not imply that they’ll stop operations at Mumbai airport.”
Well, are you excited about the new airport? Let us know in the comments!
Cover Image Courtesy: website/Navi Mumbai International Airport & Instagram/@airindia
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