Full Breakdown
Mumbai Airport’s Terminal 1 Redevelopment Triggers a Shift of International Flights to Navi Mumbai
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
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Core Event: Planned Relocation of International Flights to Navi Mumbai International Airport
Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has asked airlines to submit plans by November 3 for a temporary transfer of international traffic equivalent to five million passengers per annum from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). IndiGo, Air India Group and Akasa Air have already finalised moves covering roughly three million passengers. The operator proposes that the remaining shift occur during the summer 2027 schedule to create head-room for the demolition and reconstruction of Terminal 1 (T1).
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Background & Context
CSMIA’s T1, commissioned in 1964, was flagged in structural audits by Structwel (2017) and IIT Bombay (2024) as needing replacement. The airport handles about 55 million passengers annually and is near capacity. MIAL’s plan aims to raise overall capacity to 65 million by modernising T1 (increasing its handling capacity from 15 million to 20 million) and expanding Terminal 2. NMIA, operational since December 2025, has an initial capacity of 20 million passengers with a long-term target of 90 million.
Visual evidence
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Timeline
- 1 Oct 2023 – Adani Airports urged airlines to relocate one-third of international departures.
- 3 Nov 2023 – Deadline for airlines to submit relocation plans.
- Summer 2027 schedule (starting March 2027) – Target period for the bulk of the shift.
- Feb 2027 – IndiGo to begin moving 12 daily international departures to NMIA.
- July 2027 – Completion of IndiGo’s phased transfer.
- Dec 2026 – Air India Express to start four daily domestic flights from NMIA.
- Mar 2027 – Commencement of T1 demolition work.
- 2030 – Target for full completion of the T1 redevelopment.
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Official Statements & Responses
- MIAL cited the 2017 and 2024 audits as justification and said the temporary traffic reduction is incorporated into the approved tariff order.
- IndiGo announced a “progressive transfer” of its 12 daily international departures, emphasizing that historic slots at CSMIA will be restored after redevelopment.
- Air India Group described its phased shift of Air India Express services as aligned with the broader transition programme.
- Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) framed the move as a step toward a “dual-airport system” that will balance capacity.
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Criticism & Opposition
Foreign carriers and several airlines have opposed the unilateral reduction of international slots, arguing that the shift could cause operational disruption and passenger inconvenience. The Airline Operators Committee (AOC) urged MIAL to engage on the winter 2027 schedule and provide detailed capacity data. The Civil Aviation Ministry has asked the operator to work with airlines on a mutually agreed transition plan.
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Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Some sources cite 5 million passengers (? 9 % of traffic), while others refer to 5 MPPA without a percentage.
- Weekly slots slated for relocation are reported as 265 of 770 in some statements and 133 weekly international departures in others.
- NMIA’s future capacity is described as 20 million initially and 90 million long-term, but expansion timelines are unclear.
- Final dates for many routes, especially domestic connections supporting the moves, remain pending.
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What’s Next
MIAL will await airline submissions by November 3 and then negotiate the detailed schedule for the summer 2027 shift. Demolition of T1’s north section is slated to begin in March 2027, with the rebuilt terminal expected to be operational by 2030. NMIA will continue scaling its infrastructure as the dual-airport system matures.