Freighter operations at the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), India’s second-largest air cargo hub will be suspended from August 2026 to May 2027, and experts warn that this could disrupt export flows, increase freight rates, and damage the country’s reputation as a global cargo hub. The Air Cargo Agents Association of India ACAAI) warned that suspending freighter operations for 10 months would disrupt upliftment capacity and increase freight rates substantially. CK Govil, CMD, Activair Airfreight and Immediate Past President, ACAAI said, “The suspension of freighter operations at the current Mumbai airport for nearly 10 months is a serious concern for the air cargo industry. Mumbai is a critical gateway, and removing dedicated freighter capacity will inevitably lead to a sharp tightening of cargo space. This imbalance between demand and available capacity is likely to push freight rates upward, disrupt supply chains, and place additional pressure on exporters, importers, and logistics service providers. Unless alternative capacity is planned and executed proactively, the impact will be felt across key trade lanes, particularly for time-sensitive and high-value cargo,” he added.
