Business · Companies · 6 hrs ago
Airlines seek more time to shift international flights to Navi Mumbai
Mumbai airport operator MIAL wants to temporarily move international flights to Navi Mumbai while it redevelops Terminal 1.
The plan would shift traffic equal to five million passengers a year from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Airlines say the move should not begin before the winter 2027 schedule, and they oppose cutting flight slots in summer 2027.
IndiGo, the Air India group and Akasa Air have plans to move traffic for around three million passengers a year, but international airlines have not agreed to MIAL’s proposal.
The Terminal 1 rebuild is scheduled to start in April 2027 and finish by December 2030; the airport says safety and structural concerns make replacing the ageing terminal necessary.
The redevelopment and Terminal 2 expansion are expected to raise Mumbai airport’s capacity from 55 million to 65 million passengers a year, and shifted flights are expected to return after the Terminal 2 expansion, planned to open by March 2029.
Foreign airlines and Adani Airports have not agreed on when international flights should shift from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai.
At a meeting on Wednesday, airlines asked to wait until the winter 2027 schedule, while the operator plans to begin reducing capacity at Mumbai airport in April 2027.
Adani Airports asked airlines to submit transition plans by November 3.
The shift is proposed during redevelopment of Mumbai airport’s Terminal 1, which is scheduled to begin in April 2027.
The rebuilt terminal is targeted for completion by December 2030.
- Who
- Adani Airports and foreign airlines operating from Mumbai airport.
- What
- They disagree over the timing and terms for temporarily shifting international flights to Navi Mumbai.
- When
- The dispute was discussed at a meeting on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The operator plans to begin reducing capacity in April 2027.
- Where
- Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport, about 50 km away.
- Why
- Mumbai airport’s Terminal 1 is due to be redeveloped, requiring some traffic to be shifted temporarily.
Adani Airports
Foreign airlines
Timing
Adani Airports
Adani plans to begin reducing capacity at Mumbai airport in April 2027.
Foreign airlines
Airlines say the transition should not happen before the winter 2027 schedule, starting in October.
Slots and redevelopment
Adani Airports
Adani is seeking transition plans and proposes shifting traffic during the redevelopment.
Foreign airlines
Airlines oppose unilateral slot reductions and have called for phased redevelopment and discussions in line with ministry slot-allocation guidelines.
Readiness and planning
Adani Airports
Adani presented Navi Mumbai’s facilities and slot availability and asked airlines for plans by November 3.
Foreign airlines
Airlines say they need more time and further details about capacity, demand, infrastructure and the redevelopment schedule.
The previous meeting between foreign airline representatives and Adani Airport management was held.
A meeting between the airport operator and airlines ended without agreement after about 90 minutes.
Adani Airports asked airlines to submit transition plans by this date.
Demolition of Terminal 1 and the planned reduction in Mumbai airport capacity are due to begin.
Foreign airlines say they need until the start of the winter schedule to transition some operations.
Completion of the redeveloped Terminal 1 is targeted.
- Meeting
- About 50 airline officials attended; reports said they represented 35 airlines or almost all of Mumbai’s 45-airline Airline Operators’ Committee.
- Requested deadline
- Adani Airports asked airlines to provide transition plans by November 3.
- Proposed transfer
- MIAL proposed temporarily shifting international traffic amounting to 5 million passengers per annum.
- Terminal 1
- Redevelopment is scheduled to start in April 2027 and finish by December 2030.
- Terminal 1 capacity
- Expected to increase from 15 million to 20 million passengers annually.
- Distance
- Navi Mumbai International Airport is about 50 km from Mumbai’s existing airport.
4 sources
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What people are saying
The airlines will have to make a choice, certain airlines, not all. Either they move to Navi Mumbai or temporarily stop flying to Mumbai
There needs to be a business case for airlines to move to the Navi Mumbai airport. We cannot be asked to unilaterally agree to move to an airport 50 km away.
An expansion of Terminal 2's north-west pier, expected to be operational by March 2029, would handle interim domestic traffic