Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) announced that it will suspend all flight operations between 11:00 and 17:00 IST on 7 May 2026 to carry out critical pre-monsoon runway maintenance. Both primary (09/27) and secondary (14/32) runways will be closed, rendering the airport—the country’s busiest single-runway hub—completely inoperative for six hours. Airport operator MIAL says it began stakeholder consultations six months ago so that airlines could re-time services and issue passenger notifications well in advance. The closure comes after an already-difficult spring in which CSMIA cancelled more than 170 movements on 3 and 8 March when West Asia airspace disruptions forced airlines to rejig rotations. Travel managers with Mumbai-originating itineraries on 7 May should check updated schedules immediately and pad connection times for onward international flights out of Delhi, Bengaluru or Dubai. Carriers are expected to operate larger-gauge aircraft on either side of the maintenance window, and seat availability could tighten on short notice. MIAL says the works are non-negotiable: resurfacing prevents water-logging and rubber build-up that compromise braking performance during Mumbai’s intense monsoon season.
Source: NewKerala
