Airlines to submit plans to shift flights to Navi Mumbai Airport by 3 November

Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has instructed airlines to submit plans by 3 November to move some of their international flights to the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). According to a report by PTI, airlines are seeking more time to make a decision regarding this relocation.

In a meeting held on Wednesday, representatives from more than 35 airlines and MIAL officials discussed the proposed change. The discussion focused on transferring a portion of Mumbai Airport's international operations to NMIA and concentrating on the redevelopment of Terminal 1 (T1). According to a report by Business Standard, MIAL has instructed airlines to move one-third of their international flights to the Navi Mumbai Airport starting from the summer schedule of 2027.

MIAL had initially planned to begin partial relocation from 25 October, but due to opposition from airlines, this deadline was extended to the summer schedule starting from March 2027. Now, some airlines have requested time until the winter schedule starting from October 2027. MIAL's objective is to move some international flights from Terminal 2 (T2) to NMIA, so that the vacated capacity in T2 can be utilised for domestic operations during the redevelopment of T1.

The redevelopment work of T1 is expected to begin next year and be completed by 2030. MIAL has assured airlines that the temporarily relocated international traffic, comprising approximately 5 million passengers per year, will be fully reinstated at Mumbai Airport after the completion of the T2 expansion work.

Air India, Air India Express, and IndiGo have announced plans to move flights to the Navi Mumbai Airport in phases starting from December. Akasa Air will also phase its Mumbai-Jeddah services relocation from December. Currently, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport can handle 55 million passengers annually, which is expected to reach 65 million after redevelopment. Meanwhile, NMIA is being prepared to handle 20 million passengers annually in its first phase.