100 flights cancelled as Mumbai Airport shuts-down for two days
Due to pre-monsoon repair and preventive maintenance work on the intersection of two cross-runways (09/27 and 14/32), Mumbai Airport will remain shut today and tomorrow for six hours. The work has been scheduled from 11 AM to 5 PM on both days. This will lead to delays and congestion in the country's second busiest airport, with several flights either getting cancelled or diverted.
CSIA announces the repair work
Jet Airways worst affected, SpiceJet and Air India too suffer
The runway closure has resulted in cancellation of more than 100 flights, to and from Mumbai. Jet Airways, whose primary base is in Mumbai, has rescheduled 70 international and domestic flights and has cancelled 70 domestic and international flights. SpiceJet spokesperson said that 18 flights stand cancelled, while Air-India has diverted 4 and has cancelled 34 flights. There's no update from IndiGo yet.
All airlines were informed of this planned move: MIAL
MIAL, which operates the Mumbai airport, said that all airlines were informed about the shutdown as it was a planned move. Out of the two runways, the primary one (09/27) can handle 48 arrivals/departures, or 'movements,' per hour, while the secondary one (14/32) can handle 34 per hour. Every day, Mumbai Airport sees 970 flight arrivals and departures.
Make a note: Runway to be closed in October too
The runway intersection will be closed again on October 23 for the same time slot, when post-monsoon repair work will be carried out. Hence, there will be flight diversion/cancellation during that time too. This is dampening, as October is generally a vacation month for many.
