The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has intervened to address “persistent congestion” at Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), operated by the Adani Group. In a statement issued on Tuesday night, the ministry highlighted the causes of congestion, including excessive slot distribution with limited time margins, non-adherence to slots by airlines, and non-scheduled operations during peak hours.

Expressing concern over the lack of corrective action by MIAL, the ministry directed the airport operator to ensure all airlines comply with prescribed restrictions. The impact of the ministry`s directive was felt immediately, with several airlines announcing flight cancellations starting Wednesday. Consumer bodies have expressed concerns over the potential increase in airline ticket costs due to the reduction in flight operations. They argue that the government`s failure to intervene in airline tariffs could disrupt the demand-supply economics, leading to higher prices for consumers.