Mumbai Flight Shuffle: Foreign Airlines Propose Shift to Navi Mumbai Airport
Foreign airlines and major Indian carriers propose shifting select international flights to NMIA during CSMIA Terminal 1 redevelopment.
In a strategic move to ensure seamless travel during major infrastructure upgrades, foreign airlines operating out of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) have recommended shifting select international flights to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). This proposal comes as Mumbai prepares for the extensive redevelopment of Terminal 1 (T1), aiming to prevent operational chaos and optimize passenger flow across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The Plan: Consolidation Over Fragmentation
According to sources, Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has communicated this proposal to the Civil Aviation Secretary. The suggestion, made by foreign carriers to Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL)—the operator of CSMIA—is to shift services on a destination-specific basis. This means that flights to a particular city will be consolidated at one airport rather than being split between CSMIA and NMIA, reducing confusion for travelers.
It is not just international carriers on board; major Indian airlines including IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air have also agreed to migrate select operations to the Navi Mumbai facility.
Timeline and Affected Destinations
The transition is set to align with the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Summer Schedule. Starting March 28, 2027, CSMIA will temporarily suspend slots for flights heading to 14 specific international destinations. These flights will instead operate from NMIA.
The 14 identified destinations for this transition include:
- Bahrain
- Dammam
- Dhaka
- Doha
- Fujairah
- Jakarta
- Jeddah
- Kathmandu
- Kuwait City
- Madinah
- Muscat
- Ras Al Khaimah
- Riyadh
- Sharjah
Despite this shift, the impact on the main airport will be minimal, with approximately 91 per cent of CSMIA's existing traffic capacity expected to remain unaffected.
Why T1 Needs a Makeover
The catalyst for this shift is the urgent need to redevelop Terminal 1. Commissioned back in 1964, T1 has a design capacity of 15 million passengers per annum (MPPA). However, the aging infrastructure has become a concern.
Structural audit reports conducted by Structwel in 2017 and more recently by IIT Bombay in 2024 have flagged significant issues with the terminal's existing structure. To address these, the first phase of demolition is slated to begin in April 2027, with redevelopment proceeding in subsequent phases.
Boosting Mumbai's Aviation Future
The redevelopment is not just about repairs but about massive expansion. Once the work is complete, T1's capacity is expected to jump from 15 MPPA to 20 MPPA. Consequently, the overall capacity of CSMIA is projected to rise from 55 MPPA to 65 MPPA.
Meanwhile, the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is ready to step in. With an initial capacity of 20 MPPA—which includes 5 MPPA specifically for international passengers—NMIA will provide the necessary breathing room for the region's aviation network during the transition. Together, these developments are poised to significantly strengthen the aviation infrastructure of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to meet the growing demand of passengers.