Government mandates flight reduction, limits business jet movements to ease congestion

In response to growing congestion concerns, the government has issued directives to Mumbai Airport, instructing it to reduce scheduled flights and limit the movement of business jets during peak hours. This move aims to alleviate congestion issues and improve on-time departures, according to a report by the Economic Times.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI), responsible for air navigation services, has mandated the airport to decrease aircraft movement from 46 to 44 during rush hours and from 44 to 42 during non-peak hours.

The implementation of these directives is anticipated to impact approximately 40 flights, with IndiGo facing the highest cut of 18 flights, followed by the Air India group, including Vistara, which will have to reduce 17 flights, sources familiar with the matter revealed to the paper.

Simultaneously, the curfew on the operation of business jets has been extended from four hours to eight hours, sparking protests from major corporate entities such as Reliance Industries, JSW, and the Mahindra group.

Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), operated by the Adani group, declined to comment on the matter.

The decision to curtail flights and extend the business jet curfew comes after Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed concerns regarding declining on-time departure performance at the airport.

Senior air traffic controllers attribute delays primarily to overscheduling by airlines amidst a surge in air travel demand. Government officials emphasized that factors such as infrastructure availability and unscheduled movements, such as government and business aircraft, contribute to delays.

Rajesh Bali, Managing Director of the Business Aircraft Operator Association, expressed concerns about the additional restrictions on business jets, stating that it would significantly impede business aviation operations and affect Mumbai's role as the nation's commercial hub.

Airline network planners anticipate challenges in redeploying aircraft due to abrupt flight cancellations, leading to financial losses and potential compensation payouts to affected passengers.

The government's decision underscores broader challenges faced by airports nationwide due to increased air traffic post-Covid. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has mandated that any addition of new flights must consider the passenger-handling capacity at security checkpoints, setting standards for maximum passenger throughput per hour by X-ray machines on both domestic and international sides.

Also Read: India's smartphone market faces stagnation in 2024 amid marginal growth: IDC report