Air cargo body warns Mumbai’s freighter ban from August 2026 could hike costs and disrupt vital pharmaceutical exports.
The trade body representing air cargo agents has cautioned that a scheduled halt to freighter operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport could significantly damage the nation’s export economy. The suspension, set to run for ten months from 16 August 2026 until May 2027, is expected to increase logistics costs and cause substantial delivery delays.
This decision follows an announcement by the airport operator regarding essential infrastructure upgrades. The project involves re-carpeting the primary runway, constructing a new taxiway to improve aircraft movement, and the total reconstruction of the only dedicated cargo apron, which has reached the end of its operational life.
Industry experts highlighted that the facility currently manages nearly a quarter of the country’s air freight. There are particular concerns for time-critical sectors, such as the pharmaceutical and perishable industries, which rely on the specialised handling and temperature-controlled environments provided at the site.
While some cargo will still be transported in the holds of passenger aircraft, the loss of dedicated freighters is expected to force a diversion of traffic to other hubs or the newly opened Navi Mumbai site. Stakeholders have urged the government to intervene, calling for a phased approach to the works to maintain at least limited cargo services during the construction period.
SOURCE – BUSINESS STANDARD
