1 hr ago
Airlines Challenge Adani’s Plan to Shift Mumbai International Flights
Mumbai’s Terminal 1 is planned for redevelopment.
The airport operator says some international flights should move to the new Navi Mumbai airport.
Airlines want to know why exactly 33 per cent of those services must move and how that figure was calculated.
They also want records of earlier discussions and information about how busy the Mumbai terminals are.
The airlines say they support making Terminal 1 safe and improving it.
But they do not want their flights or airport slots changed without a clear plan and proper consultation.
The airport operator has offered incentives for new international flights at Navi Mumbai.
The airlines say those incentives do not answer their current questions.
The Airline Operators Committee asked Adani-controlled Mumbai International Airport Ltd to provide records of consultations on Terminal 1’s redevelopment since 2020.
Airlines questioned the basis and methodology for shifting 33 per cent of international services to Navi Mumbai International Airport by October 25.
The committee requested month-by-month 2026 capacity-use data for Mumbai airport’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, plus their declared handling capacities.
It sought a detailed Terminal 1 redevelopment plan covering scope, phases, timelines and operational effects.
Airlines said they support safe redevelopment but oppose unilateral changes to established operations or slots without data and consultation.
- Who
- The Airline Operators Committee and airlines, in communication with Adani-controlled Mumbai International Airport Ltd and the Adani group.
- What
- Airlines sought consultation records, capacity data and a redevelopment plan, and challenged the proposed relocation of 33 per cent of international services to Navi Mumbai International Airport.
- Where
- Mumbai airport’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and Navi Mumbai International Airport.
- When
- The communication was sent on Sunday; the stated deadline for shifting services is October 25. The year is not specified.
- Why
- Airlines said they need transparency about the Terminal 1 redevelopment, capacity assessment and operational effects before agreeing to changes in flights or slots.
Airlines
Airport operator
Moving international services
Airlines
The AOC questioned the basis, methodology and consultation history for shifting 33 per cent of international services, and said it cannot agree to unilateral changes to flights or slots.
Airport operator
AAHL says around 33 per cent of international flights at Mumbai airport need to shift to Navi Mumbai; its release cited safety concerns related to Terminal 1’s age.
Redevelopment and consultation
Airlines
Airlines support safe, timely redevelopment but want documented consultation records, capacity data and a detailed plan before operational changes.
Airport operator
AAHL CEO Arun Bansal said consultations on Terminal 1’s future had been ongoing since 2020 and the redevelopment had been presented to the airport regulator and incorporated into the approved tariff framework.
Incentives for new flights
Airlines
The AOC said landing-fee discounts and user-fee vouchers do not address its immediate need for transparency on the redevelopment and operational transition.
Airport operator
AAHL said Navi Mumbai would offer a 100 per cent landing-fee discount for new international flights and cash vouchers to offset the difference in user development fees.
Key facts
- Airline group
- Airline Operators Committee (AOC)
- Airports involved
- Mumbai airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport; both are controlled by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL).
- Proposed international shift
- Around 33 per cent of international flights currently operating from Mumbai airport’s Terminal 2 are to be shifted to Navi Mumbai, according to AAHL.
- Proposed deadline
- October 25; the article does not specify the year.
- Terminal 1 passenger figures
- The article says Terminal 1 handles around 10 million passengers annually against a stated capacity of 15 million.
- Data requested
- Month-wise actual capacity utilisation for Terminals 1 and 2 for every month of 2026, along with available and declared handling capacity.
- AAHL incentive offer
- A 100 per cent discount on landing fees for new international flights at Navi Mumbai, plus cash vouchers to offset the difference in user development fees.
Quotes
Arun Bansal
CEO of Adani Airports Holdings Ltd (AAHL).
“Extensive consultations with airlines on the future of Terminal 1 have been ongoing since 2020, and the proposed redevelopment was also presented before AERA (Airports Economic Regulatory Authority) and subsequently incorporated into the approved tariff framework.”
rediff.com
Airline Operators Committee
Committee representing airlines operating at Mumbai airport.
“This is particularly relevant as 2020 was the Covid-19 period and Adani group took over operations of only in mid-2021.”
rediff.com
Sources
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