According to the airport’s earlier statement, the scheduled shutdown was necessary to ensure continued safety, reliability, and compliance with global aviation standards
Pic/Nimesh Dave and Sameer Abedi
The Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport carried out its annual post-monsoon maintenance on Thursday, shutting down operations for six hours—from 11 am to 5 pm—on November 20, 2025. The closure, announced earlier this month, was part of routine safety and operational checks conducted every year.
According to the airport’s earlier statement, the scheduled shutdown was necessary to ensure continued safety, reliability, and compliance with global aviation standards. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued well in advance, enabling airlines and stakeholders to revise flight schedules and plan manpower accordingly.
Passengers caught off guard by soaring fares
As operations paused at 11 am, the usually bustling arrival gates at Terminals 1 and 2 fell unusually silent. However, many passengers travelling on flights scheduled after 5 pm reached the airport early, unaware of the closure.
“We did not know about the pause in operations. We arrived early, as my plan was to meet my friends and travel to Coimbatore together,” said Dr Bipin Vashi.
Dr Bipin Vashi. (Pic/Sameer Abedi, Nimesh Dave and Rane Ashish)
Dr Vashi, who had booked his ticket a month earlier, escaped the sharp fare surge that hit last-minute travellers on Thursday. On some routes, fares skyrocketed to as high as Rs 26,000. A Mumbai–Delhi direct flight on SpiceJet was priced at Rs 25,340.
Even typically low-fare routes saw steep jumps. A Mumbai–Hyderabad direct flight, which usually costs around Rs 4,000, was listed at Rs 17,873. Social media users were quick to point out that certain international flights departing Mumbai cost less than domestic ones on the same day.
Similarly, flights from Bengaluru to Mumbai—normally priced between Rs 3,400 and Rs 7,000—shot up to nearly Rs 25,000. Surya S and Deepika Arjuna, who flew in from Bengaluru for a conference, said they had little choice but to pay the inflated fare. “We weren’t aware of the runway maintenance, and since it was a last-minute booking, we paid what was shown. Our flight was also delayed by an hour,” Surya said.
Surya S and Deepika Arjuna. (Pic/Sameer Abedi, Nimesh Dave and Rane Ashish)
Maintenance completed, no issues found
Sources at the airport told mid-day that the maintenance work proceeded smoothly and no faults were detected. “All lights, surfaces, and related infrastructure were checked thoroughly. Minor repairs were completed. Since this is done every year, it helps the airport avoid accidents and operational issues,” the source said.
Passengers feel financial strain
While the annual maintenance is considered critical for aviation safety, the accompanying surge in fares has left many passengers burdened. One traveller arriving from Delhi, who requested anonymity, said, “It feels like we are paying for the six hours that flights didn’t operate. For someone booking out of compulsion at the last minute, it is a huge expense.”
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