Full Breakdown
Mumbai Airport Slot Reduction Dispute Amid Terminal 1 Redevelopment
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Planned 33 % Cut to International Slots and Shift to Navi Mumbai
Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (MIAL), operated by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. (AAHL), announced a temporary reduction of 265 of the 770 weekly international departure slots at Terminal 2 (T2), roughly 33 % of capacity, effective October 25. Vacated slots will be re-allocated to domestic operations moving from Terminal 1 (T1) to T2, while some international services will shift to the newly built Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). Airlines have until October 6 to identify slots they wish to discontinue; otherwise, MIAL will allocate them based on operational considerations.
Background & Context
The redevelopment of T1, described by AAHL as necessary for safety, will begin with demolition of the North Section of T1-B on January 15 2027. The 60-year-old terminal handles domestic traffic for an airport that serves about 55 million passengers annually. AAHL estimates that around 5 million passengers (? 9 % of annual traffic) will be temporarily affected. The plan aims to free up T2 space for domestic flights and eventually increase overall airport capacity by 33 % to 20 million passengers per annum.
Data & Statistics
- Weekly international departure slots at T2: 770.
- Slots proposed for temporary discontinuation: 265 (? 34 %).
- Airlines affected: 46 carriers, including IndiGo (-74 slots), Air India (-33), Emirates (-10) and Etihad (-10).
- Domestic passenger traffic to be moved from T1 to T2: about 5 million per year.
- NMIA’s role: provide additional capacity for the shifted international services.
Official Statements & Responses
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) asked MIAL to defer the transition plan and reconvene with stakeholders, giving parties until October 20 to finalize an “agreeable” transition. IATA welcomed the intervention, emphasizing that any capacity reduction must be based on a transparent demand-capacity assessment, involve meaningful airline consultation, and allow sufficient time for workable arrangements.
AAHL’s CEO Arun Bansal stressed that 91 % of passenger traffic will remain unaffected and that the shift to NMIA is temporary.
Criticism & Opposition
Airlines have voiced strong opposition. Stefan Gumuseli, General Manager India for Air France-KLM, said splitting operations between two airports would require new ground teams and training, making the relocation “not an option.” Several carriers described the October 25 timeline as “unachievable” and warned that the lack of prior consultation could disrupt winter schedules approved in June 2026. The Airline Operators Committee (AOC) has formally requested MIAL disclose the methodology behind the 33 % figure and provide month-wise capacity utilisation data for 2026, questioning alignment with IATA’s Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the basis for the 33 % reduction. MIAL cites the need to accommodate domestic traffic, while the AOC seeks clarification on whether the calculation reflects terminal capacity, passenger traffic, flight numbers, or slot availability. No public methodology has been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The key thing is to reach an agreement on the revised approach among all parties – MIAL and airlines operating at Mumbai Airport – through consultation,” — Albert Tjoeng, IATA.
What’s Next
A stakeholder meeting is scheduled for October 13, during which airlines are expected to cite MoCA’s 2013 Slot Allocation Guidelines. The Ministry’s deadline of October 20 remains in force for finalising a collaborative transition plan. After agreement, demolition of T1-B will commence on January 15 2027, marking the next phase of the airport’s modernization.