Mumbai Airport schedules six-hour closure on Nov 20 for annual maintenance

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will temporarily suspend all flight operations on November 20 to conduct its annual post-monsoon runway maintenance. The temporary closure from 11 AM to 5 PM will impact both the main runway 9/27 and the secondary runway 14/32.

This planned shutdown, coordinated six months in advance, aims to ensure safety and maintain compliance with global aviation standards.

The airport operator, Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), emphasised this is a pre-planned, mandatory safety exercise. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued six months in advance, allowing airlines ample time to adjust schedules and minimise passenger disruption. The maintenance is crucial for this hub, which handles nearly 950 flights daily.

Specialised teams will use the shutdown to perform detailed inspections, surface repairs, and technical assessments of runway lighting, markings, and drainage systems. This proactive work is vital for ensuring the long-term safety and efficiency of one of the world's busiest single-runway operations. Passengers booked to travel on November 20 are advised to contact their airlines for updated flight information.