‘Making the shift to NMIA a timely and much-needed welcome change’

Debajyoti Bagchi, Vice President – Business Development, TT Group said, “While the transition of freighter operation from CSMIA to NMIA may bring initial teething issues effective from Aug 16, 2025, it is typical with any major operational shift and such challenges are expected to stabilise over time. Change is inevitable, but adapting to it requires time and collaboration. A similar experience was observed during the transition of airports in cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The shift from HAL to Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and from Begumpet to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad, initially posed challenges. However, those decisions have proven to be transformative, ushering in world-class airport & cargo infrastructure and garnering international recognition, including multiple Skytrax awards. For decades, Mumbai’s air cargo operations have grappled with infrastructure constraints, even as cargo stakeholders experienced exponential grown. This growth has been managed within the same limited space, making the shift to NMIA a timely and much-needed welcome change. The new integrated cargo terminal is expected to significantly improve cargo handling efficiency while targeting 3.25 million metric tons during its final phase, including seven code F stands, automation, dedicated ODC corridor resulting faster acceptance, ample equipment to do build-up, and dispatch processes to apron side. Moreover, NMIA’s strategic location, with direct connectivity to major highways, eliminates the need for cargo trucks to enter the city and deal with ‘no-entry’ restrictions—resulting in smoother, more predictable logistics with faster handover timing. It is imperative for NMIA to focus and get all statutory & regulatory validations done such as EU-RA3, TSA, ACC3, GSDP-WHO, ISAGO including EDI to make the ball rolling faster before the official inauguration. While customers and stakeholders will take time to adapt, this transition is undoubtedly a welcome move by Adani, aligning with the upsurge demand trajectory of air cargo in Central India and from hinterland states. With patience and cooperation, the industry is poised to benefit greatly from this next phase of development by NMIA.”