MASkargo to shift Mumbai freighter operations to NMI from September

MASkargo will shift its Mumbai freighter operations from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) from September, adding another international widebody freighter operator to NMI's growing cargo network.

Jason Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, MASkargo, confirmed the move to The STAT Trade Times. He mentioned that the airline will initially operate one weekly freighter service to NMI.

MASkargo currently operates a fleet of three Airbus A330-200F freighters. Mumbai is one of the carrier's two freighter destinations in India, alongside Chennai (MAA).

The move comes as CSMIA prepares to temporarily suspend dedicated freighter operations as part of a major infrastructure programme.

Why are freighters moving from Mumbai to NMI?
Announced in the second half of 2025, Mumbai's primary airport, CSMIA (BOM), has scheduled a temporary suspension of dedicated freighter operations from August 2026 through May 2027. In an official letter to its cargo partners, Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), which manages, operates and develops CSMIA, said the airport will undertake re-carpeting of its main runway, RW 09/27. The work will require Runway 09/27 to be closed for most parts of the day.

At the same time, CSMIA will construct Taxiway E parallel to Runway 14 to eliminate aircraft crossings on the active Runway 14/32. Once commissioned, the taxiway is expected to significantly improve the capacity of Runway 14/32, bringing it in line with that of Runway 09/27. The infrastructure programme will also require the demolition of existing cargo infrastructure, resulting in the temporary suspension of dedicated freighter operations at CSMIA.

The disruption is prompting international cargo carriers to look for alternative operating locations, with NMI emerging as the principal alternative for Mumbai's dedicated freighter traffic.

More international freighters heading to NMI
MASkargo follows a growing list of international cargo carriers moving or planning to move operations to NMI. A month ago, Cathay Cargo announced plans to relocate its freighter operations from BOM to NMI. However, they also mentioned that the move is subject to all necessary regulatory and operational approvals and is temporary, continuing until further notice.

Cathay Cargo said the relocation is intended to keep cargo moving while construction work continues at Mumbai's primary gateway. The carrier's existing tri-weekly summer-season freighter service to Mumbai will continue as scheduled, despite the shift in operating airport.

IndiGo CarGo has also started international freighter operations from NMI. Its Airbus A321-211(P2F), registered VT-IKX, operated a Bengaluru–Navi Mumbai–Sharjah–Delhi routing, with the NMI–Sharjah sector forming part of a regular non-scheduled service. The flight carries general and perishable cargo.

Announced in July, Hong Kong Air Cargo would add a new international freighter connection from NMI, commencing weekly round-trip charter flights between Hong Kong (HKG) and Navi Mumbai (NMI) from August 10, 2026. The service will operate every Monday. The Hong Kong-based carrier said the service will establish an early footprint at Navi Mumbai International Airport, strengthening its regional network and creating a new cargo link between East and South Asia.

Air France and Lufthansa Cargo are also evaluating NMI for their Mumbai freighter operations as the CSMIA suspension approaches. But now the question is whether NMIA is prepared for this shift?

Concerns over NMI readiness
While airlines are shifting operations to NMI, several cargo carriers and industry sources reveal their concerns about the airport's preparedness to handle additional freighter traffic.

Sources revealed that several airlines mentioned their customers are unhappy about the shift away from CSMIA, with some saying they are being forced to move to NMI because of the temporary suspension at Mumbai. The main concern is NMI's readiness for widebody freighter operations, particularly in areas such as cargo facilities, trained manpower and other operational infrastructure. This could be even more challenging for widebody operators.

For cargo airlines, the transition is not simply about moving aircraft between two airports. CSMIA's cargo ecosystem has been supported by established ground handlers, warehouses, freight forwarders, customs processes, trucking networks and other logistics infrastructure so far. Moving these operations to NMI requires airlines and their service partners to establish new operational arrangements while maintaining the service levels and turnaround times expected by cargo customers.

However, on a positive side, NMI has moved quickly since launching international cargo operations. On July 15, the airport handled its first international cargo movement when 1,789 kg of fruits and vegetables were uplifted to Abu Dhabi on an Air India Express passenger service, which was followed by IndiGo’s first freighter operation from NMI.

Earlier this year, FedEx broke ground on its first dedicated integrated cargo terminal in India, committing more than ₹25 billion to build a 300,000 sq ft fully automated air cargo hub at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The facility will serve as a regional hub linking India with Southeast Asia, West Asia, Europe and the United States.

For NMI, however, the arrival of another widebody freighter operator will put its cargo infrastructure and operational capabilities to an increasingly important test.

With CSMIA's dedicated freighter operations suspended for several months, NMI is gaining airlines and freighter capacity at a rapid pace. The next challenge will be whether its cargo ecosystem can scale at the same speed.