Move or Pause: International Airlines Face Tough Choice Over Navi Mumbai Airport
Adani Airports CEO Arun Bansal reveals international airlines must either move to Navi Mumbai Airport or suspend services during Mumbai airport redevelopment.
International carriers operating out of Mumbai are facing a critical decision regarding their future in the region. According to Adani Airports CEO Arun Bansal, these airlines must either shift their operations to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) or temporarily suspend their services while the existing Mumbai airport undergoes significant redevelopment.
Speaking at the Delhi Aviation India 2026 event, Bansal acknowledged that relocating is a daunting prospect for global carriers, many of whom have operated from the same hubs for several decades. However, he clarified that the transition is necessary to facilitate the modernization of the city's aviation infrastructure.
The Dilemma for Global Carriers
Bansal noted that the airport operator is currently in discussions with various international airlines to manage this transition. He presented two clear paths for these carriers:
- Relocation: Moving their flight operations to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport.
- Temporary Suspension: Pausing their services in the Mumbai region until the redevelopment is complete.
The CEO admitted that "airlines don't like to move from the airport," citing the inconvenience caused to carriers that have been established in Mumbai for 20 to 40 years. Despite this natural resistance, he expressed confidence that the industry would eventually adapt.
Domestic Giants Already on Board
While international carriers are still weighing their options, major Indian airlines have already aligned with the plan. Carriers including IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air—which together handle approximately 60–65 per cent of the international traffic at Mumbai airport—have already agreed to the arrangements for shifting certain operations.
Bansal emphasized that this collaborative approach is designed to benefit not only the customers but the country's overall aviation growth.
Redeveloping a 60-Year-Old Legacy
The urgency for this shift stems from the state of Terminal 1 (T1) at the current Mumbai airport. Bansal revealed that T1 is over 60 years old and currently poses significant safety concerns, making its complete reconstruction an absolute necessity.
As part of this redevelopment:
- Airlines currently using T1 will be required to shift to Terminal 2 (T2).
- To accommodate this shift, some existing capacity at T2 will be temporarily suspended.
- Airlines that choose to suspend operations now will be given the opportunity to resume them based on their historical operating rights once the enhanced capacity is available.
Boosting Capacity and Connectivity
The redevelopment is expected to have a massive impact on passenger handling. The current annual capacity of 55 million passengers is projected to rise to nearly 65 million after the T1 overhaul. Additionally, the airport operator is working to increase air traffic movements, which currently stand at 44 per hour, with a goal of achieving roughly 20 per cent growth.
The Vision for a Two-Airport City
Addressing concerns about whether the region can support two major hubs, Bansal asserted that Mumbai has sufficient passenger demand for both airports. He highlighted that the first phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport is being accelerated to ease the transition. To ensure the new airport is accessible, the operator is focusing on improving road connectivity and the implementation of proposed metro links.
Changing the Airport Management Paradigm
Beyond infrastructure, Bansal touched upon a shift in how airports are managed. He criticized the traditional "landlord" model, where operators simply build infrastructure and lease it out to others.
"One of the traditional problems in the airport, the way it was run, both in India and internationally, is that airport operators see themselves as a landlord,"
Bansal stated that Adani Airports is moving away from this mindset, focusing instead on managing the majority of customer touchpoints directly to significantly enhance the overall passenger experience.