Flights in and out of Mumbai airport could be delayed this winter, as the airport’s main runway will be shut for eight hours a day, except Sundays, for eight months starting from 28th October 2013.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has said that the runway will be shut from 9am to 5pm for construction of two new rapid exit taxiways at the airport. Although the second runway will be available for operations, it is not equipped to handle low visibility operations.

The closure of the main runway will result in aircraft taking longer routes while taxiing towards the runway for take off.