Earlier this week, Akasa Air announced that it would shift its Mumbai–Jeddah operations from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Navi Mumbai International Airport, becoming the latest airline to move some of its flights to the new airport. Earlier, IndiGo and Air India had also announced plans to shift some of their international operations to NMIA.
The developments come as Mumbai airport operator Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) aims to transfer around five million passengers annually by March 2027 to facilitate the redevelopment of Terminal 1B. While airlines based in India have complied with the request, several foreign carriers remain reluctant to shift their operations.
According to The Indian Express, Emirates has raised questions about NMIA’s capacity to support large international airline operations. Air France-KLM has opposed shifting its services between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
On Wednesday, representatives of more than 35 airlines and Mumbai airport officials met to discuss the transition plan for partially shifting international flights. Some carriers sought additional time to decide on relocating their operations.
MIAL had initially planned to implement the partial shifting of international operations from October 25. However, following concerns raised by various foreign airlines over the transition plan, the deadline was deferred until March 2027.
Against this backdrop, more than 35 members of the Airline Operators' Committee (AOC) and MIAL officials met on Wednesday for over one-and-a-half hours to discuss issues related to shifting international operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport.
During the meeting, MIAL requested airlines to share their transition plans by November 3. The airlines were also assured that the temporarily transitioned international traffic of 5 million passengers per annum (mppa) would be fully restored to Mumbai Airport once the T2 expansion is completed, PTI reported, citing sources.
Airlines Seek More Time
Several airlines sought time until the next winter schedule, which begins in October 2027, to relocate their international flights, sources told PTI.
According to a source, airlines have insisted that the redevelopment of Terminal 1 should be carried out in a phased manner. They have also rejected any unilateral decision by MIAL to reduce slots from the next summer schedule, which begins in March 2027.
Mumbai airport has the capacity to handle around 55 million passengers annually, while NMIA is designed to handle 20 million passengers during its initial phase. Both airports are operated by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL).
With the renovation of Terminal 1 (T1) at Mumbai airport scheduled to begin next year, MIAL wants airlines to partially shift their international flights from Terminal 2 (T2) to NMIA. The objective is to utilise the space vacated at T2 for domestic operations by the carriers.
The renovation of T1 is estimated to be completed by 2030.
Initially, AAHL had asked airlines to cut 33 per cent of their international flights or shift them to NMIA by October 25, which also marked the beginning of the winter schedule.
Following opposition from operating airlines, the deadline was deferred by a few weeks.
Earlier this month, a meeting between representatives of AAHL and airlines decided that the partial shifting of international flights to Navi Mumbai airport would be postponed until the summer schedule commencing in March 2027.
With airlines continuing to seek more time and insisting on a phased approach, the transition plan remains a key issue as MIAL prepares for the redevelopment of Terminal 1 and the expansion of domestic operations at Mumbai airport.
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