On May 2, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will be closing both its runways for six hours for maintenance work under its monsoon contingency plan.
The airport has announced that Runway 09/27 and Runway 14/32 will be closed from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and a notice to airmen (NOTAM) has been issued. After 5:00 p.m., all services will resume as usual.
“On 2nd May, both the runways of Mumbai Airport will remain temporarily non-operational on the account of pre-monsoon maintenance and repair work from 11:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs. Passengers are requested to check with their respective airlines about their scheduled flights,” said Mumbai Airport in a Tweet.
The Importance of Timely Maintenance
It is worth noting here that, every day, nearly 900 flights pass through the CSMIA, which has a network of runways, taxiways, and aprons spanning approximately 1,033 acres.
The airport has stated that timely check and repair work on the runways and associated facilities is critical to maintaining the airport’s health and operational continuity during the monsoon months.
Yearly Maintenance Work
According to the CSMIA, yearly runway maintenance work includes inspecting the runway surface by engineering and airside teams for any wear and tear caused by day-to-day operations and strengthening the airside strip.
As per the airport, all relevant stakeholders were informed six months in advance, allowing airlines to plan their flight schedules accordingly.
Part of the Monsoon Contingency Plan
The maintenance work is also part of the airport’s monsoon contingency plan, which was developed to respond to and mitigate any potential issues caused by the weather during the monsoon season.
Due to heavy rains and high winds, the monsoon season can cause disruptions and delays in flight schedules, and the airport’s contingency plan aims to minimise these disruptions.
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