Airlines, Jet Owners Protest Mumbai Airport Relocation by July 31 | 2X Parking Fees at Navi Mumbai Airport Spark Backlash
Airlines and private jet owners are protesting notices to vacate Mumbai Airport by July 31, citing steep 2X parking fees at Navi Mumbai Airport. Over 50 operators affected as aviation tensions rise in India’s busiest air corridor
A clutch of airlines and private jet operators have written to the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), raising concerns about relocation notices and proposed parking charges at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), both operated by entities under the Adani Group.
Several operators, including Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and business aviation users represented by the Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA), have requested that the authorities review recent directives issued by Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), which manages CSMIA. These include orders to vacate parking spaces by July 31 and suggestions to shift operations to NMIA, which is still under development.
Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), which operates both airports through subsidiaries, had issued notices in April and May 2025 asking airlines and corporate operators to vacate their parking bays at CSMIA by July 31 to facilitate construction of a new taxiway.
In a letter dated July 9 to the Civil Aviation Secretary, BAOA Managing Director R.K. Bali stated that CSMIA, as a public infrastructure asset, should remain accessible to all stakeholders in a fair and non-discriminatory manner. The association called for cancellation or deferral of the relocation orders until alternative parking arrangements are available.
“Parking permits have been cancelled on account of redevelopment activities proposed at CSMIA, and no alternative parking space can be provided at CSMIA,” the association stated in its communication to MoCA
The BAOA, whose members include Hindalco , Taj Air, JSW Steel, Grasim Industries, Futura Travels, Reliance Transport, and Larsen & Toubro, also highlighted that the proposed charges at NMIA are significantly higher. The association cited a planned Rs 20 crore parking stand fee, along with annual usage charges at NMIA, which it said were approximately 30 percent higher than current fees at CSMIA.
Responding to a query on whether it was open to extending the July 31 deadline for relocating the aircraft parked at CSMIA, an AAHL spokesperson said this may not be possible as the taxiway extension project was being expedited. “We are currently fast tracking the project and, as such, no provision has been made for any extension,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also said that 14 aircraft have been designated as “base aircraft” at CSMIA as of July 15. Base aircraft refers to aircraft parked at CSMIA on an annual parking lease.
“All parking and landing charges are in compliance with AERA tariffs,” the spokesperson added, responding to a query on parking charges being higher at Navi Mumbai airport.
According to AAHL’s submission to AERA, NMIA proposes to charge Rs 25 per hour per metric tonne for the first two hours of parking, compared to the existing Rs 7.88 per hour per tonne at CSMIA. Airline executives have said this cost structure would significantly increase operational expenses.
In addition to cost concerns, operators have cited infrastructure readiness issues at NMIA. The airport is not yet fully operational, and industry bodies say it lacks the capacity to accommodate all displaced traffic. Currently, CSMIA has 108 parking stands, while NMIA has approximately 95, according to airline estimates.
In a separate letter to AERA dated July 1, airlines also requested an expansion of parking capacity at CSMIA, instead of displacing existing users. They described aircraft parking as a “critical requirement” for operational continuity, especially in a congested urban centre like Mumbai.
BAOA has also pointed out that the apparent lack of coordinated planning between the two airports—both under the same ownership—has added to the uncertainty. It noted that a coordinated transition could have reduced disruption, especially given the proximity of the two airports.
Earlier this year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) also raised concerns with MIAL over what it described as its decision to unilaterally cancel cargo slots. IATA said the move could affect the airport’s operational reputation and questioned whether the step was intended to shift cargo flights to NMIA. MIAL had denied these claims.
Corporate jet operators have separately noted that most clients prefer using CSMIA due to its central location and proximity to key business districts in Mumbai. They have raised concerns that, under current plans, aircraft may need to drop passengers at CSMIA and then relocate to NMIA for parking, resulting in higher fuel costs and operational complexity.
MIAL operates CSMIA and holds a 74 percent stake in NMIAL, the entity developing the Navi Mumbai airport. The situation remains under review, and stakeholders are awaiting a response from regulators.
