Mumbai's plan to shift international flights between its two airports hit a roadblock after airlines opposed a proposal to move more than a third of departures from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the newly opened Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), which operates CSMIA's Terminals 1 and 2, had proposed shifting 265 of the airport's 770 weekly international departures to Navi Mumbai from October 25. The move was expected to affect around 46 airlines, according to reports.
Located in Santacruz, CSMIA has Terminal 1 (T1) on the Vile Parle side, near the Western Express Highway, and Terminal 2 (T2) on the Andheri East side of the airport complex. MIAL wants to free up capacity at the airport by demolishing and rebuilding parts of the ageing T1, which is due for an overhaul.
However, the proposed change triggered a dispute over airport capacity, passenger convenience, airline schedules and the consultation process. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) asked MIAL to defer the plan and work with airlines on a mutually agreed transition, reported Business Standard.
On October 13, MIAL said it would maintain existing international flight allocations through the winter schedule, which runs from October 25, 2026, to March 27, 2027, reported Reuters. Any subsequent transfer would follow consultations with individual airlines. A follow-up meeting is now scheduled for October 28, according to ANI.
The immediate implication of the recent developments is that passengers should not assume their international flights will shift to Navi Mumbai on October 25. The longer-term question is how the two airports will accommodate traffic while Mumbai's existing terminal undergoes redevelopment.
Notably, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) holds a 74% stake in MIAL, which operates and manages CSMIA. MIAL, in turn, holds a 74% stake in Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL), giving the Adani Group effective control of both major airports in the MMR.
WHY MIAL WANTED TO MOVE 265 WEEKLY FLIGHTS TO NAVI MUMBAI
The proposed transfer is linked to the redevelopment of Terminal 1 of the Santacruz airport, which currently handles domestic flights only. MIAL has argued that reorganising flight operations would help accommodate passengers affected by the redevelopment while ensuring the airport continues to function smoothly during the construction work.
"To ensure continuity of operations and minimise inconvenience to passengers, AAHL has provided airlines with the option to temporarily relocate their operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport at their discretion. AAHL will support airlines through this transition and will provide all necessary assistance to ensure a smooth and seamless migration of services," Adani Airports' official statement said.
The proposal covered approximately 34.4% of the total weekly international departures from CSMIA. MIAL had asked airlines to identify which services they could transfer, with the original plan targeting October 25.
The scale of the proposed redistribution shows the pressure on Mumbai's airport infrastructure. The CSMIA handled 55.5 million passengers in calendar year 2025. Moving flights between terminals is therefore not simply a matter of changing departure gates, as it affects aircraft scheduling, passenger connections, ground handling, airline staffing and access to NMIA.
The north section of Terminal 1B is scheduled for demolition from January 2027, with the project intended to replace ageing infrastructure and provide additional capacity by 33%, according to the statement — to 20 million passengers per annum (mppa) from the current 15 mppa.
Airlines, however, have questioned whether the proposed reduction in international operations is justified and whether the available capacity at T2 and NMIA has been adequately established.
WHY AIRLINES OBJECTED TO THE PLAN TO MOVE FLIGHTS TO NAVI MUMBAI
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents airlines worldwide, wrote to the civil aviation ministry, objecting to what it considered a "forced relocation". It flagged operational, commercial and regulatory questions, including whether the necessary arrangements were in place at Navi Mumbai to support the affected international services.
Airlines also argued that their winter schedules had already been planned, reported Reuters. Moving flights between airports can require changes to aircraft rotations, crew arrangements, connecting services, ground-handling contracts and passenger itineraries. The impact might extend beyond the individual flight being transferred, particularly when an airline operates a network of connecting services from one airport.
The proposed shift would therefore involve services that were not themselves based at the terminal undergoing redevelopment.
MIAL, meanwhile, had initially said it would go ahead with its planned 33% reduction in international departure slots at Terminal 2 from 11.59 pm on October 25, citing airlines' failure to attend a September 16 meeting and submit their transition plans by September 25, reported The Hindu.
The disagreement eventually reached the civil aviation ministry, and on October 6, MoCA asked MIAL to defer its transition plan and convene discussions with stakeholders to develop a mutually agreed approach.
The postponement does not mean that the redevelopment has been abandoned or that the question of moving flights has been permanently settled. It gives the airport operator and airlines additional time to work through the operational questions before any subsequent changes are made.
WHAT THE SHIFT WOULD MEAN FOR PASSENGERS AND JOURNEY TIMES
The Navi Mumbai International Airport sits roughly 35-45 kilometres from central and southern parts of Mumbai, depending on the starting point.
Travel times by road typically range from about 60 to 95 minutes under normal conditions and can stretch beyond two hours during peak traffic or from the western and northern suburbs.
From South Mumbai, the Atal Setu (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link) provides a direct route.
From the eastern suburbs, the journey often runs via the Eastern Express Highway and connecting roads. Western suburbs such as Goregaon or Mira Road generally require longer travel. Public transport options to the NMIA are still developing. Rail and shuttle connections are improving but are not yet as seamless as those serving the older airport in Santacruz.
The proposed 35-km Gold Line, also known as Mumbai Metro Line 8, is planned to connect CSMIA with NMIA, with a combination of elevated and underground sections.
Taxi and ride-hailing costs to the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) are correspondingly higher for many city residents, often costing anywhere between Rs 700 to 1,500 one-way, depending on the surge charge during peak hours and weekends. For Santacruz airport, however, metered kaali-peeli taxis and autorickshaws are readily available at all hours, day and night.
Passengers whose flights are shifted to NMIA would need to factor in additional travel time for ground transfers to CSMIA, as the two are 38-45 km apart, depending on the route. The journey would add to overall transit time, requiring passengers to plan their transfers carefully to avoid missing connecting flights, particularly during peak hours when roads around Santacruz and Vashi are heavily congested.
Those living in Navi Mumbai or eastern areas stand to gain convenience, while many in the western and island-city areas (South Mumbai) face longer surface journeys.
For passengers, the immediate winter season should proceed without the large-scale disruption that the original October deadline would have caused.
The dual-airport model is intended to expand overall capacity for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Success will depend on improved surface connectivity, mature ground-handling and support services at Navi Mumbai, and continued dialogue between the airport operator, airlines and the ministry.
The coming months of planning will determine whether the transition can be achieved with minimum friction when the summer schedule arrives.
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