Flight operations at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will be suspended for six hours on Tuesday, October 17, for runway maintenance works. According to a statement by CSMIA, flight operations will be closed from 11 am to 5 pm.

“As part of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport’s comprehensive post-monsoon runway maintenance plan, both runways – RWY 09/27 and RWY 14/32 – will be temporarily non-operational on October 17, 2023 from 1100 hours to 1700 hours,” CSMIA said in a statement.

CSMIA is conducting this maintenance work as part of its annual post-monsoon preventive maintenance plan. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) with respect to this had been exchanged with airlines and other stakeholders six months ago, the CSMIA said. With the new maintenance undertakings, CSMIA aims to increase the airport’s infrastructure to the highest standards.

“This yearly practice of runway maintenance post-monsoon is a part of the series of activities undertaken with precision and meticulous efforts, ensuring operational continuity and passenger safety, thus bringing to life the vision of imbibing a passenger-first approach at the core of our operations,” it said.

According to CSMIA, passenger traffic has grown by 33 percent to 1.27 crore in the September quarter. This represents a 109 percent growth compared to the pre-pandemic period (QBCY2019). During the period under review, there were 60,861 domestic air traffic movements (ATMs) and 20,438 international ATMs.

A report indicates that the period between July and September saw a surge in passenger traffic at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). The airport witnessed a total of 43,29,749 passengers in August, which had two long weekends, making it the busiest month of the quarter.