News Desk: Emirates has indicated that it has no immediate plans to shift its existing Mumbai operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport, saying it would need additional flight rights and seat entitlements before considering services from the new facility.
Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ senior vice-president for West Asia and Indian Ocean Commercial Operations, said the airline’s existing permissions under India’s bilateral air service agreements do not automatically extend to a new airport.
“We do not have additional rights, part of our air service agreements and entitlements to operate into any new airport or any new destination,” Ahmad said on Wednesday.
He added that Emirates would consider operating from Navi Mumbai if it secured additional flight permissions and seat entitlements.
The comments come amid a proposal to shift 33% of international flights from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport from the summer schedule next year.
Asked whether Emirates would move a portion of its operations under the proposed arrangement, Ahmad said the airline had not formulated a strategy and would continue operating from Mumbai International Airport for now.
Existing rights remain a key hurdle
Emirates is one of the largest international carriers operating in India, with 167 weekly flights across nine Indian destinations. These include Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram and Ahmedabad.
The airline currently operates 28 weekly flights from Mumbai and offers around 67,000 weekly seats across its Indian network.
Ahmad explained that bilateral air service entitlements are linked to specific airports. Therefore, existing permissions cannot automatically be transferred to a newly opened airport.
He said the airline would assess Navi Mumbai’s facilities and operational readiness before making any decision about future operations.
Navi Mumbai offers commercial potential
Despite the current restrictions, Emirates sees potential in Navi Mumbai’s catchment area. Ahmad highlighted its proximity to Pune and its location near a major seaport as factors that could make the airport attractive to the airline.
He said additional entitlements would create an opportunity to serve a new market rather than simply relocate existing flights.
However, he also stressed the importance of supporting infrastructure, including catering facilities and cargo warehousing. According to him, airlines could find it difficult to shift operations until the airport’s wider operational ecosystem was fully developed.
### Decision depends on future permissions
India’s expanding airport infrastructure could create fresh opportunities for international airlines, but Emirates’ position highlights the role of bilateral agreements and traffic rights in determining where carriers can operate.
For now, the airline will continue its Mumbai operations while keeping the possibility of using Navi Mumbai open, subject to additional entitlements, infrastructure readiness and a commercial assessment of the new airport.
Reader Comments 0