Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will suspend dedicated freighter operations for about 10 months as it undertakes extensive airside upgrades, including runway re‑carpeting and new taxiway construction, according to multiple industry notices and operator statements.

The suspension is scheduled to run from August 2026 through May 2027, during which freighter flights will be shifted to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) once it becomes operational.

The airport operator, Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (MIAL), informed cargo partners that the work will require long closures of Runway 09/27 and construction of Taxiway E, designed to reduce aircraft crossings and improve long‑term capacity.

The move follows earlier plans to halt freighter operations beginning August 16, 2025, tied to infrastructure upgrades and a strategic push to migrate cargo traffic to NMIA, according to various reports.

CSMIA handles nearly a quarter of India's air cargo volumes, making the temporary suspension one of the most significant operational shifts in the country's logistics sector.

Industry groups have warned that the pause could disrupt pharma and perishables supply chains unless NMIA is fully prepared to handle specialized cargo requirements.

Airport officials have emphasized that belly cargo on passenger flights will continue, and that the suspension applies only to dedicated freighter aircraft.

They have also pushed back on claims of a full cargo shutdown, saying general cargo operations will remain active during the upgrade period.

The 10‑month pause is expected to accelerate the long‑planned redistribution of Mumbai's cargo traffic between the two airports, with NMIA positioned as the region's primary freighter hub once fully operational.