Mumbai airport defers international flight shift to Navi Mumbai by a few weeks after airline pushback

Mumbai airport operator MIAL has told airlines that the proposed rationalisation of international flights, including partially shifting operations to Navi Mumbai airport, has been deferred by a few weeks, sources said.

Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports are part of Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), which has asked airlines to cut 33 per cent of their international flights to Navi Mumbai airport or discontinue them by October 25.

With airlines opposing the proposal, the civil aviation ministry convened a meeting of the stakeholders on October 6 to discuss the issue wherein the ministry had suggested delaying the implementation.

Against this backdrop, Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has informed airlines that it has decided to defer the traffic rationalisation plan by a few weeks, citing assurance that the industry would work towards a solution to support the redevelopment programme, sources said.

AAHL, which is set to start renovations to Mumbai airport's Terminal 1, has not commented, and it has proposed partially shifting flight operations.

On October 13, airlines and AAHL will hold discussions on the transition plan. Mumbai International Airport, one of the busiest in the country, has two terminals -- T1 and T2. T1 handles domestic operations, while international flights operate from T2. The vacated international departure slots at T2 will facilitate the transition of domestic traffic from T1.

Meanwhile, the Airport Operators' Committee (AOC) has sought various details and clarifications from MIAL, including the detailed T1 redevelopment plan and capacity assessment at T1 and T2, as per the sources.

Among other issues, AOC -- which represents airlines operating at the airport -- has asked to review any independent consultant reports related to the structural safety of T1, they added.

On October 3, AAHL said 91 per cent of Mumbai airport's passenger traffic will remain unaffected by the demolition of the north section of T1 for the redevelopment of the six-decade-old terminal and the subsequent relocation of partial operations to T2 and Navi Mumbai International Airport.

T1 redevelopment will begin in January 2027 and increase capacity by 33 per cent, up to 20 mppa (million passengers per annum) from the current 15 mppa, AAHL said in a statement.