Foreign airlines warn of diplomatic fallout over Mumbai airport slot cuts

Several foreign carriers facing relocation from Mumbai airport have threatened reciprocal measures under bilateral air services agreements. This comes if Mumbai International Airport Ltd denies them historical slots for the summer 2027 schedule. <b>MIAL</b> decided to cut slots for airlines serving 14 destinations as part of a capacity-reduction plan linked to Terminal 1 redevelopment, which disproportionately affected West Asian carriers. Four airlines have written separately to MIAL and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, escalating the dispute. They have sought ministry intervention and warned of possible reciprocal measures under bilateral agreements, questioning why flights to 14 international destinations were selected for relocation while excluding Dubai and Abu Dhabi.