On 21 November 2025, the Chhattrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai achieved what no single-runway airport in the world had done before, handling 1,036 aircraft movements in just 24 hours. With 520 arrivals and 516 departures, the airport set a new global benchmark in operational efficiency, coordination, and technological integration. A staggering 170,488 passengers passed through its terminals that day, making it one of the busiest moments in Indian civil aviation history. But this achievement is more than numbers and records. It reflects Mumbai’s spirit: fast, determined, and constantly evolving.

India’s Second-Busiest Airport Reaches for the Skies

CSMIA is already known as India’s second-busiest airport, after Delhi, and among the 14th-busiest in Asia and 31st-busiest worldwide (2024). What makes its latest milestone remarkable is that all this traffic runs on just one operational runway. 

In a world where major airports rely on two, three, or even four runways, CSMIA’s feat stands out as a marvel of planning and precision. 

The busiest domestic sectors on the record-breaking day were Delhi, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad, while international routes saw heavy movement to Dubai, Doha, and London—clear evidence of Mumbai’s role as a global mobility hub.

Digital Innovation at the Heart of Operations

Behind this massive achievement is a carefully built network of digital systems and human intelligence. CSMIA credits much of its success to innovations such as DigiYatra, which uses biometric facial recognition to make passenger processing smoother and faster. Real-time data sharing between air traffic controllers, ground staff, airlines, and security teams helped maintain the delicate balance required to land and depart aircraft every few minutes without delay. These advancements reflect India’s larger push toward smart aviation airports that are not just buildings but intelligent ecosystems.

From RAF Base to International Gateway: A Rich Legacy

Built in the 1930s, the airfield was first known as RAF Santa Cruz during World War II (1942–47). Spread across 1,500 acres, it had three runways and served as a base for several Royal Air Force squadrons. By 1946, as the war ended, the airport was handed over to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for civilian use. Two old RAF hangars were converted into makeshift terminals, one for domestic passengers and one for international travelers. In its first year of civilian operations, the airport handled only six flights a day. Today, it handles over a thousand in a single day, a transformation that reflects India’s rise in aviation. After the Partition of 1947, Karachi, previously a major aviation center, became part of Pakistan, increasing traffic into Mumbai. By 1949, the airport was managing 40 flights a day, prompting urgent expansion. A new terminal and apron were constructed between 1950 and 1958, transforming Santa Cruz into one of India’s major aviation hubs. However, the arrival of jumbo jets in the 1970s exposed the terminal’s weaknesses. Designed for 600 passengers, it served almost 1,200 at peak hours.

The Story Behind the Record

Every airport tells a story of people, not just planes, and Mumbai’s record-breaking moment is a tribute to the thousands of individuals whose synchronized efforts made it possible. Air traffic controllers guided landings every 40–50 seconds with extraordinary precision, while ground staff and technicians worked tirelessly to prepare each aircraft for departure. Airline crews followed demanding schedules, security teams and immigration officers managed a continuous flow of travellers, and engineers and planners ensured that every system ran without a glitch. Behind this world record lies the quiet strength of these everyday heroes—people who stay awake through the night so that the city never stops moving. For passengers, this achievement was more than a statistic; it translated into smoother queues and faster boarding.

A Symbol of Mumbai: Fast, Fearless, Unstoppable

CSMIA’s November 21 milestone is more than an aviation record; it is a symbol of Mumbai itself. A city that never slows down, never stops dreaming, and never allows limitations to define its future. From a 1930s RAF base to a world-record-setting airport, the journey of CSMIA is a story of innovation and human dedication. And as India’s aviation sector continues to grow, this historic achievement serves as a reminder that even with one runway, Mumbai can outfly the world. Mumbai’s CSMIA sets a world record by handling 1,036 aircraft movements in 24 hours on a single runway—showcasing India’s aviation brilliance, precision, and unstoppable spirit.