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Mumbai's dual airport transition creates cargo bottlenecks as freighter operations shift

Cargo congestion has gripped both of Mumbai's airports as freight operations transition between facilities. Mumbai City Airport is implementing airside infrastructure upgrades that have suspended dedicated freighter slots until June 2027, forcing airlines to relocate services to Navi Mumbai International. Adani Group, which operates both gateways, has secured 13 freighter services at the new terminal as it ramps up handling capabilities. However, operational challenges at NMIA are creating unexpected delays. Lufthansa Cargo halted all freighter flights from Mumbai on September 20, suspending six weekly services. Operations are expected to resume at NMIA from October 1. Emirates SkyCargo and other major cargo carriers have relocated their scheduled Mumbai operations to Bengaluru amid reliability concerns. Industry observers question why congestion persists at the original airport even as most freighters have departed, and why bottlenecks exist at NMIA despite advance planning under unified management.