Aaditya Thackeray accuses BJP govt of trying to ‘finish off’ Mumbai airport

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has alleged that the BJP-led government is attempting to "finish off" Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by reducing its international flight capacity, arguing that the move could weaken the city's connectivity with the rest of the world.

Thackeray's remarks came amid a dispute between airlines and Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) over a proposed reduction in international departure slots at Terminal 2 (T2). MIAL has asked airlines to temporarily discontinue 265 of the 770 weekly international departure slots at T2 from October 25, amounting to a reduction of about 33 per cent. The airport operator has said the capacity is needed to accommodate additional domestic operations during the redevelopment of Terminal 1 (T1).

Thackeray links airport changes to wider concerns over Mumbai

Reacting to reports that airlines have opposed the proposed reduction, Thackeray accused the BJP-led government of pursuing policies that he claimed were weakening Mumbai's position as an economic and international hub.

In a post on X on Saturday, he said the BJP regime that ushered in India's "Lost Decade" had seen several companies, manufacturers and even the International Financial Services Centre being forced out of Mumbai.

He also claimed that this had adversely affected the wider Indian economy.

"Now by finishing off our airport, the BJP intends to finish Mumbai's ability to connect with the world, intentionally," he said.

Thackeray's comments come as airlines have raised objections to the proposed reduction in international slots, citing the timing of the change and its potential impact on existing flight schedules and passengers. Reports said airlines have pointed out that the winter schedule had already been approved and that carriers had made operational and passenger commitments based on that schedule.

Airlines oppose proposed 33 per cent slot reduction

The proposed reduction would affect 46 airlines operating international services from Mumbai. IndiGo would face the largest reduction, with 74 weekly international departure slots affected, while Air India would face a reduction of 33. Other airlines facing cuts include Akasa Air, Air India Express and SpiceJet. Foreign carriers such as Emirates and Etihad Airways are also among those affected.

Airlines have reportedly objected to what they consider a lack of meaningful consultation over the proposed changes. They have said they support the redevelopment of T1 but have not agreed to flight cancellations or a unilateral reduction in T2 operations. Airlines have also sought greater clarity on how the proposed 33 per cent reduction was determined and have asked for discussions with the airport operator and the government.

The Civil Aviation Ministry is scheduled to meet airline representatives and MIAL on October 6 to discuss the dispute over the proposed operational changes and the shifting of flights between the two airports serving the Mumbai metropolitan region.

Terminal 1 redevelopment behind capacity changes

The proposed reduction in international operations is linked to the planned redevelopment of Mumbai airport's Terminal 1, which currently handles domestic traffic. MIAL plans to use capacity at T2 to accommodate some of the domestic operations affected by the redevelopment.

The airport operator has said the redevelopment is intended to address infrastructure and capacity requirements at T1. Adani Airports has previously said the redevelopment of T1 is expected to increase its annual capacity to about 20 million passengers.

Recent reports said the first phase will involve the redevelopment of the northern section of Terminal 1B, which accounts for roughly one-third of T1's capacity. The operational changes are therefore being presented by the airport operator as a temporary measure linked to the redevelopment rather than a permanent withdrawal of international connectivity from Mumbai.

Thackeray questions role of Navi Mumbai airport

Thackeray also criticised the way Navi Mumbai International Airport is being brought into the operational plan, arguing that it should supplement Mumbai airport rather than become a substitute for services currently operating from the city.

"The DB Patil International Airport in Navi Mumbai is supposed to be a +1 airport, not a way to simply push passengers to discomfort and fleece them-kind of an airport. Who is this loot being facilitated for?" Thackeray said.

Navi Mumbai International Airport is being developed as a second airport for the Mumbai metropolitan region. Its operator says the airport is designed to handle 20 million passengers annually in its initial phase.

(With inputs from PTI)

* This article was originally published here