Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Airlines

Mumbai airport slot dispute: Ministry meeting, positions and incentives

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai (file image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

The Civil Aviation Ministry met airlines and Adani Airports on October 6, 2026.

Adani has proposed cutting 265 of 770 weekly international slots at Terminal 2 from October 25.

IATA has opposed forceful relocation.

Adani has offered a one-year waiver on landing charges at Navi Mumbai, according to Daily Excelsior.

The reports did not include the outcome of the meeting.

IATA has said the move should be based on market forces and airlines’ choice and not on mandated relocations.

TradingView, citing Moody’s, reported that airlines rejected the proposal on Friday and repeated their opposition on Sunday.

LatestLY reported that airlines were reluctant to move operations to Navi Mumbai.

As incentives, Adani has offered a one-year waiver on landing charges at Navi Mumbai and cash vouchers to international passengers to offset fee differences, according to Daily Excelsior.

Adani has cited the age of Terminal 1 and an April fire incident, saying the risks of continuing operations have become more pronounced.

The reports available on October 6 did not include the outcome of the meeting.

The first reports of the proposal came on October 3, when the airport operator asked airlines to name the slots to be dropped by 4 pm on October 6.

A slot is the approved time at which an airline may take off from or land at an airport.

Navi Mumbai International Airport began international operations in July 2026, when Air India Express started flights to Abu Dhabi.

The Civil Aviation Ministry convened a meeting with airlines and Adani Airports on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, over the proposed shifting of international flights at Mumbai airport.

Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha was to chair the 2 pm meeting, according to Daily Excelsior.

IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Adani Airports were among those expected to attend.

Adani Airport Holdings has proposed temporarily discontinuing 265 of 770 weekly international departure slots at Terminal 2 from October 25.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai (file image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

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