Mumbai’s growing aviation congestion has prompted plans to relocate most business jets, turboprops, and charter aircraft from the city’s airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) by year-end. Currently, these aircraft are parked in general aviation bays off the main runway of Mumbai Airport. A spokesperson for Adani Airports Holdings Ltd confirmed that NMIA, set to commence operations in 2025, will feature advanced infrastructure, including dedicated hangars for private and charter aircraft. The transition aims to create additional aeronautical assets at Mumbai Airport, which will undergo refurbishment. NMIA is expected to handle domestic flights by mid-2025, with its general aviation terminal and some parking bays ready by year-end. The gradual migration of general aviation operations to NMIA will begin then. While private and charter aircraft will still land at Mumbai Airport for passenger disembarkation, they will relocate to NMIA or other airports for parking. The Kalina general aviation terminal in Mumbai will remain operational for passenger facilitation. Capt. Rajesh Bali, Managing Director of the Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA), supported the move, noting that the current layout at Mumbai Airport fails to meet international standards for the proximity of runways to parking bays. NMIA’s optimised layouts are expected to address these concerns. Mumbai Airport currently accommodates 24 general aviation aircraft. Due to limited space, planes are towed into parking slots after engine shutdowns to maximise efficiency. However, congestion continues to be a challenge. Last year, BAOA raised concerns with Adani Airports about the tender process for granting hangar usage rights at NMIA. The planned relocation to NMIA is expected to alleviate logistical challenges and improve overall operational efficiency for general aviation in the region. (ET)