CSMIA to close freighter ops in August 2025, NMIA to take over?

In a major development, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai, the city’s main airport and one of the world’s busiest single-runway airports, has announced the closure of its freighter operations starting 16 August 2025 until further notice.

The announcement was communicated to cargo partners through a notice issued by Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), which is operated by Adani Airport Holding Limited (AAHL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, the flagship company of the Adani Group with major operations in sectors such as transport, energy, and infrastructure.

The primary reason behind the closure is the airport upgradation work to improve capacity and efficiency.

In its statement, MIAL mentioned to its cargo partners, “As MIAL needs to carry out multiple airside works, including building new taxiways for Runway 14/32 to enhance its capacity and bring efficiency in operations. MIAL therefore has no option but to temporarily shut down part of the cargo facilities. MIAL therefore formally informs you that Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (MIAL) will be discontinuing freighter operations from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) effective 16 August 2025 until further notice.”

Notably, CSMIA handles a substantial amount of cargo and is the second busiest airport in the country after New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. It processed 543,596.4 tonnes (+14.0%) from April 2024 to January 2025, with 51,667.7 tonnes moved in January alone (+3.3%).

The airport mentioned that it ended 2024 on a strong note with a 17 percent increase in international cargo volumes.

The airport caters to various domestic and international cargo carriers, including Emirates SkyCargo, Qatar Airways Cargo, Air France Cargo, Silk Way West Airlines, Ethiopian Cargo, MASkargo, Singapore Airlines Cargo, China Airlines Cargo, FedEx, SF Airlines, YTO Cargo Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Turkish Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo, Blue Dart, IndiGo Cargo, Pradhaan Air Express, and Quikjet Airlines.

These carriers primarily operate dedicated narrow-body freighters, such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, as well as wide-body freighters like the Boeing 777, 747, and 767, while many also utilise the belly cargo space on their passenger flights to Mumbai.

The closure will have no impact on belly cargo, as passenger flights to CSMIA will continue to operate.

What will happen to Mumbai’s freighter operations?

In a later statement to cargo partners, Adani Airport Holding Limited (AAHL) informed them about the transition and invited them to initiate freighter operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), with services beginning on 16 August 2025, which is also when they will be discontinued at CSMIA.

It said, “With its conducive infrastructure for freighter operations and efficient process, NMIA is poised to become the preferred choice for freighter operators operating in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

With its proximity to various manufacturing hubs, NMIA provides the ideal opportunity for its cargo trade partners to augment their business and make use of the state-of-the-art infrastructure.

We are excited to collaborate with you and present the first movers’ advantage by considering your operations at NMI from 16 August 2025. We are sure that this collaboration will benefit both NMI and your esteemed airline.”

The cargo infrastructure planned at NMIA is indeed impressive. The airport will feature a state-of-the-art integrated cargo terminal, starting with an initial handling capacity of 0.5 million metric tonnes per annum during Phases I and II. This capacity will cover both domestic and international operations. Upon completion of the final phase, the terminal is expected to scale up to handle 3.25 million metric tonnes

Strategically located to serve the growing demand of the MMR, the integrated terminal will feature infrastructure to support international export/import, domestic outbound/inbound, pharmaceuticals, perishables, and express/courier cargo.

The terminal will be supported by 7 Code-F operational freighter stands located adjacent to the cargo terminal and will house key regulatory bodies such as Customs, Assistant Drug Controller, and both plant and animal quarantine services.

An advanced cargo management system will enable automated business transactions, simplifying operations and enhancing efficiency.

Additionally, NMIA will provide seamless origin-destination and transfer cargo capabilities, making it an ideal hub for freighter operators aiming to expand. A dedicated corridor for Over-Dimensional Cargo (ODC) and a service-level agreement (SLA)-driven framework with KPI monitoring will further ensure reliable, high-performance cargo handling.

Phases I and II are simultaneously nearing completion, the notice mentioned.

NMIA is set to be inaugurated in June 2025. In December last year, the airport took a major step toward becoming operational with its first commercial flight validation test. Runway 08/26 came to life as an Indigo Airlines A320 aircraft successfully landed, marking a significant milestone in the airport’s progress toward full operational status.

NMIA will feature two parallel runways, each 3,700 metres long, providing ample length for the landing of wide-body aircraft. In comparison, the primary runway (09/27) at Mumbai's CSMIA is 3,445 metres long.

However, discussions are still ongoing, and it remains to be seen what decision the cargo carriers will make and how much it will affect cargo operations. Some cargo carriers told The STAT Trade Times that they are still assessing the situation and are in close contact with local partners and stakeholders.

Sources told The STAT Trade Times that unless NMIA is equipped with the necessary infrastructure, including equipment, customs, manpower, Air Cargo or Mail Carrier operating into the Union from a Third Country Airport (ACC3), and Transport Security Administration (TSA) certification by August 16, 2025, the shift may be difficult. Additionally, Code F aircraft may pose further challenges for the shift.

NMIA has expressed its anticipation of hearing from cargo partners by May 5th, 2025, regarding their intention to begin operations at NMIA. To support this decision, the team will be available to arrange a comprehensive site visit, followed by discussions and feedback sessions as part of a collaborative approach.