Mumbai Airport Bars Russian Airlines as Agent Seeks Ministry Intervention
Aeroflot operates daily flights between Moscow and Delhi and runs a winter seasonal service to Goa. Bonded cargo from Mumbai and other cities is transported by road to Delhi before being flown to Russia. The agent said the restrictions had caused delays and additional costs for shippers using these routes.
The disruption has centred on the carting clearance process at the Mumbai cargo terminal. Airlines authorise shippers to bring consignments into the terminal after verifying airway bills and flight booking details, with the process conducted through the airport’s online system. Bonded cargo must also be presented for inspection by customs officials before being trucked onward.
Delmos Aviation said the process had remained stalled in Mumbai for the past two weeks for goods booked on Aeroflot and Volga-Dnepr Airlines. Trucks carrying consignments had reportedly been forced to return to their points of origin, while Volga-Dnepr Airlines rerouted its September 19 flight to Delhi after Navi Mumbai airport denied it permission to operate.
The agent said no proper explanation had been provided for the refusal of permissions to Russian operators. It also sought clarification on whether Russia-related cargo carried by other international airlines, including Emirates, Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines, was being assessed under the same criteria.
Delmos Aviation said it was not seeking an exemption from Indian law, customs requirements or airport security procedures. Instead, it requested a clear written policy applied uniformly across carriers and stakeholders, along with a workable process for cargo already inside the customs-controlled environment. Adani Airports and the Civil Aviation Ministry had not responded to emailed queries on the matter at the time of publication.