Indian govt issues directives to reduce airspace congestion, increase punctuality at Mumbai Airport

These directives restrict air traffic movements during High-Intensity Runway Operations (HIRO) periods, specifically from 8 am to 11 am, 5 pm to 8 pm, and 9:15 pm to 11:15 pm.

The restrictions reduce air traffic movements from 46 to 44 per hour during HIRO periods and from 44 to 42 per hour during non-HIRO periods. General aviation aircraft operations are also limited during HIRO periods. The government expects Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) to promptly ensure the cooperation of all airlines with these prescribed restrictions.

The decision comes as a response to persistent airspace congestion, which forces flights to hover over the city for extended durations, leading to increased fuel consumption.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation highlighted that an aircraft, on average, consumes 2000 kg of fuel per hour. The prolonged circling times, ranging from 40 to 60 minutes, result in significant fuel wastage, ranging from 1.7 kilolitres (approx. costing around ₹1.8 lakhs) to 2.5 kilolitres of jet fuel (approx. costing around ₹2.6 lakhs). It is to be understood that such an increase in fuel cost would eventually be borne by the consumers.

This wastage not only increases operational costs for airlines but also has a cascading effect on airport efficiency, causing longer wait times and inordinate delays for both passengers and airlines, it added.

The analysis conducted by the AAI revealed that air traffic permitted per hour during HIRO periods was nearly equivalent to the air traffic permitted during the remaining 18 hours of the day.

The causes of congestion were identified as excessive slot distribution with limited time margins, non-adherence of slots by airlines, and non-scheduled operations during peak hours. While the airport is operating at full capacity, the government emphasised that the airport operator should have proactively taken steps to regulate air traffic movements.

"While Mumbai Airport is running at its full capacity, it was found that persistent congestion was caused due to (i) excessive slot distribution with limited time margins on behalf of the airport operator, (ii) non-adherence of the slots on behalf of the airlines, and (iii) non-scheduled operations during peak hours," it said.

Citing these orders, earlier in the day, Akasa Air also announced the decision to halt operations of four flights to and from Mumbai airport.