Mumbai Airport to operate 100 flights per day: One of the busiest airports in India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Aiport (CSMIA) has been allowed to double its capacity from 50 flights per day to 100 beginning June 16. 

 

“GVK MIAL managing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) starting 16 June is permitted to cater to a total of 100 domestic commercial passenger flight movements which includes 50 departures and 50 arrivals.,” MIAL said in a statement.

 

“The move will also see an increase in the sectors that we are currently handling,” it added.

 

CSMIA will now handle 50 arrivals and an equal number of departures – up from 25 earlier allowed between May 25 to June 14. 

The Maharashtra government had allowed only 25 takeoffs and 25 landings at the Mumbai airport, when the union government gave domestic airlines permission to resume operations from 25 May — two months after the Narendra Modi-led central government initiated a lockdown and grounding of flight operations to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

MIAL is a joint venture between GVK-led consortium consisting of the state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI), Bidvest and Airports Company of South Africa. GVK holds 50.5%, AAI holds 26% and the foreign partners own remaining 23.5%. 

 

Bidvest or Bid Services Division Mauritius owns 13.5%, ACSA Global (Airports Company of South Africa) owns 10% in CSMIA, which is the country’s second busiest airport.

 

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the domestic air traffic has been steadily rising after the restrictions were lifted on domestic air travel in May-end.  

 

“On 14 June, Day 21 till 2359 hours, Indian airports had handled 714 72,583 departure passengers and 714 72,439 arrival passengers. Footfalls at airports were registered to be 1,45,022 while the total number of flyers stood at 72,583.” Puri tweeted. 

 

All scheduled commercial passenger flights were suspended in India on March 25 after the central government imposed a lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. Domestic flights in the country resumed operations from May 25.

 

“We are glad about the new progress that has come in favor of CSMIA, and we continue to relentlessly work towards ensuring the safety of our passengers and smooth functioning at the airport,” read a statement.
Taking to Twitter, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the domestic air traffic has been steadily rising after the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted on domestic air travel.

 

After the Central government imposed a lockdown to contain COVID-19 spread, all scheduled commercial passenger flights were suspended in the country on March 25. Domestic flights in the country resumed operations from May 25. (ANI)