The concern arises from a communication issued by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport’s operator, Adani Airports, to airline partners, detailing extensive airside works that will necessitate the demolition and reconstruction of existing cargo facilities.
What Adani Airports has communicated
In its correspondence, Adani Airports announced plans to construct Taxiway “E” and complete the pavement reconstruction of Apron “G,” which has reached the end of its operational lifespan. Apron “G” is the only apron at Mumbai airport specifically designated for freighter aircraft.
The operator noted that due to land limitations and the necessity to maintain uninterrupted passenger flight services, freighter aircraft will be unable to operate during the construction phase, which is scheduled from August 2026 to May 31, 2027.
Although the letter mentions the “closure of cargo infrastructure” and the suspension of freighter operations, it omits a direct statement regarding the shutdown of the cargo terminal. However, industry participants argue that the end result is effectively the same.
“Without a freighter apron and no alternative cargo facilities at the same airport, cargo operations simply cannot continue,” said a senior cargo executive. “Whether framed as infrastructure closure or apron reconstruction, it is a shutdown in practice.”
Industry flags serious risks
Mumbai is one of India’s leading air cargo gateways, managing approximately 80,000 tonnes of cargo monthly, encompassing both international and domestic shipments. It serves as a critical hub for exporters and importers in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Goa, particularly in sectors like pharmaceuticals, perishables, electronics, and engineering goods.
The Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) has reached out to Adani Airports to express significant concern over the planned suspension. They warn that dismantling cargo facilities without alternative provisions at the same airport could greatly disrupt trade.
In its correspondence, ACAAI stated that while it backs infrastructure improvements, an extended halt in freighter operations at such a vital gateway would lead to diminished uplift capacity, elevated freight rates, and increased logistics costs for exporters and freight forwarders. The association also warned that airlines obligated to reroute freighters to other hubs may not easily return once operations resume.
Cargo operators call the move a ‘systemic capacity shock’
In a conversation with CNBC-TV18, Vikram Kumar, Vice President at ACAAI, emphasized that the matter transcends routine airport modernization.
“Demolition without a clear, phased transition plan threatens to completely halt cargo operations. This is not just an infrastructure challenge; it represents a systemic capacity shock.”
Industry leaders contend that cargo operations necessitate an integrated ecosystem, including freighter access, ground handling, customs, trucking, and cold-chain facilities, all of which are currently concentrated at Mumbai airport.
Cargo already preparing to move out
In the absence of clarity regarding interim arrangements, cargo operators report that customers are already exploring alternatives.
Yashpal Sharma of Skyways Group highlighted Mumbai’s critical role in India’s logistics network.
“Mumbai is a vital gateway for Indian air cargo. With roughly 80,000 tonnes a month, combined international and domestic, this airport is among the top two air cargo gateways for India. Dismantling the existing cargo infrastructure without any alternative arrangements at the same airport could spell disaster for clients in the vicinity.”
He further noted that the impact is already palpable.
“The business we transport from Mumbai generally comes from or goes to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Goa. Customers are already weighing alternate gateways such as Delhi, Bengaluru, and Goa. This level of disruption is unprecedented in India and will unquestionably increase costs for us and all stakeholders, ultimately affecting logistics costs for customers.”
Bigger questions ahead
While Adani Airports has framed the developments as crucial for long-term capacity and safety, the cargo industry argues that modernization without continuity planning could undermine Mumbai’s cargo hub, even if temporarily.
Industry advocates are urging the airport operator to urgently engage with cargo stakeholders, outline mitigation strategies, and clarify whether cargo operations at Mumbai are being paused with safeguards or effectively shifted during the construction period.
For India’s exporters and logistics sector, the concern is that once cargo traffic diverts away from Mumbai, regaining that flow may prove challenging.
