Mumbai’s busiest airport suspended all flight operations for six hours on Thursday as part of its annual pre-monsoon runway maintenance programme, a move that has affected flight schedules across domestic and international routes

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Wednesday said both its primary runway 09/27 and secondary runway 14/32 will remain non-operational between 11 am and 5 pm on Thursday while essential maintenance work is carried out ahead of the monsoon season

Airport authorities said airlines and aviation stakeholders had been informed about the planned shutdown nearly six months in advance, allowing carriers to reschedule, cancel, or adjust flight timings in preparation for the temporary closure

According to airport officials, the maintenance exercise forms part of the airport’s annual monsoon preparedness programme aimed at ensuring runway safety during heavy rainfall

The inspection process includes checking runway surfaces for cracks, wear and tear, waterlogging vulnerabilities, and other technical issues that could affect aircraft movement during the rainy season

Officials said the airport’s airside infrastructure spans more than 1,000 acres, making periodic preventive maintenance essential for safe landings and take-offs during intense monsoon conditions. Specialised equipment and modern monitoring systems have been deployed to complete the inspection and repair work within the scheduled six-hour period.

Authorities said both runways have been restored and are operational following the completion of maintenance activities

The maintenance programme included pavement repair work, inspection of Airfield Ground Lighting systems and substations, rubber removal from runway surfaces, repainting of markings and extensive drain cleaning to improve water drainage during heavy rainfall

CSMIA handles more than 950 air traffic movements daily, making preventive runway maintenance essential to ensure operational safety and efficiency, particularly during the monsoon season.