Business · Companies · 9 hrs ago
Adani airport chief says foreign airlines can leave Mumbai or shift to Navi Mumbai
Adani Airports chief Arun Bansal says foreign airlines must move some flights to Navi Mumbai or stop flying to Mumbai.
The change is tied to redevelopment planned at Terminal 1 of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, which is run by Mumbai International Airport Ltd.
The plan would move 265 of 770 weekly international departure slots to Navi Mumbai and cut Mumbai airport’s annual passenger capacity by five million.
Airlines say the shift could split their Mumbai operations and have raised concerns about consultation, infrastructure and passenger demand at the new airport.
A committee representing 46 airlines has asked the civil aviation ministry to protect existing flight slots and says the capacity cut has not been adequately justified.
The ministry has not resolved the dispute, and the committee wants the slots approved before the November 5 deadline for the summer 2027 schedule.
Adani Airport Holdings CEO Arun Bansal said foreign airlines unwilling to move operations to Navi Mumbai could stop flying to Mumbai.
Mumbai International Airport Ltd. plans to close Terminal 1 for redevelopment from April and shift some international flights to Navi Mumbai International Airport.
The shift has faced resistance from foreign airlines, which cite concerns about consultation, passengers and airport infrastructure.
The Airline Operators Committee-Mumbai has asked the civil aviation ministry to protect airlines’ existing flight slots.
- Who
- Adani Airport Holdings CEO Arun Bansal and airlines operating at Mumbai airport.
- What
- Bansal said foreign airlines could move operations to Navi Mumbai or stop flying to Mumbai. Airlines are seeking government intervention over proposed slot reductions.
- When
- Bansal made the statement on November 3, 2026. The proposed capacity reduction is planned from April.
- Where
- Mumbai airport and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, about 50 km away.
- Why
- Mumbai International Airport Ltd. plans to close Terminal 1 for redevelopment and move some international flights to Navi Mumbai.
Foreign airlines and the Airline Operators Committee-Mumbai
Mumbai International Airport Ltd. and Adani Airport Holdings
Flight relocation
Foreign airlines and the Airline Operators Committee-Mumbai
Airlines have resisted moving some international operations to Navi Mumbai, citing concerns about consultation, passengers, infrastructure and demand.
Mumbai International Airport Ltd. and Adani Airport Holdings
MIAL plans to shift some international flight operations to Navi Mumbai as it prepares to redevelop Terminal 1.
Slots and capacity
Foreign airlines and the Airline Operators Committee-Mumbai
The AOC has asked the ministry to protect existing slots and says MIAL has not adequately justified the capacity reduction.
Mumbai International Airport Ltd. and Adani Airport Holdings
MIAL has notified airlines that they must vacate existing facilities from April; Bansal said where airlines operate afterwards is their choice.
Meetings took place over the flight relocation dispute, but did not resolve differences.
MIAL communicated its proposed capacity reduction at a meeting with airlines, according to the AOC.
The AOC asked the civil aviation ministry to protect existing flight slots in an email.
Arun Bansal said foreign airlines unwilling to shift to Navi Mumbai could stop flying to Mumbai.
- Airline Operators Committee-Mumbai
- Represents 46 of the 47 airlines operating at Mumbai airport
- Proposed slot shift
- 265 of Terminal 2’s 770 weekly international departure slots
- Planned capacity reduction
- Mumbai airport’s annual passenger capacity would fall by 5 million
- Navi Mumbai airport
- About 50 km from Mumbai airport
- Requested extension
- Foreign carriers sought until October 2027 to split operations
3 sources
What people are saying
Like a landlord tells its airlines to vacate his property… we have told airlines you have to vacate from April. After that where you go is your choice,
as a unilateral decision, without adequate justification or transparent disclosure of the actual available capacity at CSMIA
We further request that no historical slots be denied, reduced, cancelled or reallocated unilaterally, without due process and adherence to the MoCA and IATA Slot Guidelines,