Mumbai airport, airlines clash over Navi Mumbai shift

A man takes a photo of a Vistara airline passenger plane parked at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. File | Photo credit: Reuters

Between Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (MIAL) and airlines are looming over a proposed realignment of traffic during the phased redevelopment of Terminal 1 (T1).

The plan includes moving domestic traffic from T1 to Terminal 2 (T2) and moving some international services to the more distant Navi Mumbai International Airport.

In a letter to the airlines, a copy of which was reviewed by The Hindu, the MAIL warned that several airlines had not attended the September 16 meeting and had not yet submitted the transition plans required by September 25, and will therefore proceed with the previously announced 33% reduction in international departure slots from 23:59 on October 25, amounting to 265 international 77 T2 slots per week.

The reduction will affect 46 airlines. IndiGo faces 74 scrapped slots, Air India 33, while Emirates and Etihad Airways each face 10. Airlines have until 4pm on October 6 to identify the slots they want to temporarily cut; otherwise, MIAL will determine them “based on operational, capacity and implementation considerations”.

From October 26, MIAL will allocate vacated T2 facilities, including check-in counters, baggage belts, gates and office space, to domestic operators transferring from T1.

The International Air Transport Association has opposed what it described as a forced relocation of airlines from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, saying any transfer should be voluntary and supported by airline consultation. “IATA is fundamentally opposed to forced airline relocations,” the organization said. The airlines called the move a forced relocation.

The industry body also warned that Navi Mumbai’s wider operational ecosystem may not yet be ready for international services, citing uncertainty over maintenance approvals, catering, ground handling capacity, wide-body aircraft support, passenger connectivity and other service provider arrangements.

In a press statement, the Mumbai airport said the shift to the Navi Mumbai airport would be temporary. Navi Mumbai will also offer 100% waiver of landing charges on new international flights as well as vouchers for international passengers to offset the difference in User Development Fee (UDF) levied at Navi Mumbai and Mumbai airports.

From January 2027, the redevelopment of T1 will begin, increasing its capacity by 33% – up to 20 million passengers per annum (mppa) from the current 15 mppa.

Published – 03 Oct 2026 21:38 IST