Flemingo made to wait at Mumbai

Nicole Mezzasalma

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The Supreme Court of India upheld the judgement to stay the decision to retender the duty-free contracts at Mumbai airport

The Supreme Court of India has upheld its judgement to stay the Bombay High Court’s decision to order airport operator Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) to retender the duty-free contracts at Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport (CSIA) following a petition from Flemingo International challenging MIAL’s decision to exclude it from the shortlist for the tender [DFNI June 2008]. MIAL and current duty-free operator DFS Group filed appeals to the Supreme Court after the Bombay High Court’s ruling to order a retender by July 31.

The matter has been listed for a new hearing at the Supreme Court in November. DFS could remain at CSIA for the length of its contract as it could take up to five years for a final decision to be reached. MIAL is building a new terminal, scheduled for completion in 2010, and domestic passengers, and a new duty-free tender is expected before that opens.