Mumbai airport says closely monitoring cargo ops as increased volumes causes congestion

Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) is closely monitoring operations at its cargo terminal which is witnessing high volumes and an increase in shipments of odd sized cargo due to ongoing West Asia tensions. The airport operator issued a statement following reports of severe congestion that has led to 48-72 hours of wait time for trucks carrying cargo.

“Mumbai Airport is currently witnessing its higher cargo volumes, with cargo traffic recording a surge driven by heightened seasonal demand ahead of the festive period and increased movement of time-sensitive shipments through air cargo channels.

Additionally, non-standard and odd-sized cargo is being increasingly routed via air, requiring additional processing time, specialised handling, and larger terminal staging space,” MIAL has said. While union members attribute inadequate capacity and staff shortage for the issue, the airport operator has said additional manpower and specialised equipment has been deployed and shifts realigned to support peak processing windows.

“The phased transition of cargo freighter operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport will ensure a balanced distribution of cargo activity across both airports, significantly easing operational pressure on Mumbai Airport while leveraging Navi Mumbai’s expanded capacity and modern logistics infrastructure to support the region’s growing trade requirements,” it added.

While non scheduled cargo flights have already shifted to Navi Mumbai, scheduled freighter flights of most airlines are expected to move to Navi Mumbai this month