Cathay Cargo leads freighter transition to NMIA

Cathay Cargo has become the first international carrier to formally announce the relocation of its freighter operations from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), effective August 3.

"Subject to operational requirements, our Mumbai freighter service is planned to relocate to NMI with effect from 3 August," a Cathay Cargo spokesperson confirmed to The STAT Trade Times. The airline confirmed the move is temporary, running until further notice, and is designed to keep cargo moving while construction work continues at Mumbai's primary gateway. Cathay Cargo's existing tri-weekly summer-season freighter service to Mumbai will continue as scheduled despite the shift.

The relocation follows an earlier notice from MIAL, operator and developer of CSMIA, announcing the temporary suspension of dedicated freighter operations at the airport in the coming months.

In April 2025, the airport announced plans to suspend freighter operations to facilitate upgrade work, including the construction of new taxiways for Runway 14/32 aimed at enhancing capacity and operational efficiency. The suspension was scheduled to begin on 16 August 2025 and remain in effect until further notice. Following this, Adani Airport Holding Limited (AAHL) issued a notice inviting cargo partners to shift their operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) from 16 August 2025. Cargo operators were also requested to confirm their intent to commence operations at NMIA by 5 May 2025.

The move then drew sharp criticism from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). John Middleton, IATA's Head of Worldwide Airport Slots, raised concerns over what appeared to be a permanent withdrawal of historic freighter slots from the next scheduling season onward. MIAL, in response, said the changes to cargo operations and slot allocations were carried out through a transparent, consultative, and regulator-led process, forming part of a wider infrastructure upgrade programme under the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India's (AERA) Fourth Control Period review.

Following widespread criticism from IATA and the industry, CSMIA reversed its earlier decision to suspend freighter operations from 16 August 2025 until further notice. In a statement to The STAT Trade Times, the airport said, “The matter has been resolved amicably and the slots have been reinstated.”

The move by Adani Airport Holdings also drew concerns from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). According to earlier reports, the DOT wrote to India’s civil aviation ministry in March this year, warning that the proposed relocation of freighter operations, including those of FedEx, could breach the U.S.-India Air Transport Agreement. The DOT further cautioned that compelling American carriers to relocate might violate the terms of the agreement.

The DOT believes the shift may not be purely operational. Instead, officials see it as an attempt to populate the new airport and boost its traffic especially since Adani controls both airports raising concerns over disproportionate influence in India’s aviation sector.

More than a year after its first attempt, CSMIA has engaged with stakeholders and successfully transitioned freighter operations from the main gateway to the newly built Navi Mumbai International Airport. Both airports are operated by Adani Airport Holdings.

Cathay Cargo's announcement comes as other international carriers weigh similar moves. Airlines have begun negotiating office space and ground-handling arrangements ahead of a planned relocation of freighter operations from Mumbai to NMIA, Hindu Business Line reported. Air France, which runs two weekly freighter services between Paris and Mumbai, has indicated its cargo operations could shift as early as August 1, subject to approvals. Lufthansa Cargo said it remains in close coordination with authorities and stakeholders as operational details are still under review.

NMIA is set to open to international passenger traffic on July 15, with Air India Express launching the airport's first international service, to Abu Dhabi. NMIA CEO BVJK Sharma said cargo operations will also begin July 15, with cargo services expected to scale up to nearly 18 weekly flights as operations expand.

With Cathay Cargo's move now confirmed, the coming weeks will show whether Air France, Lufthansa Cargo and other carriers follow suit, reshaping Mumbai's cargo map well ahead of the traditional peak season.