Fadnavis opposes shifting 14 international routes from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has opposed a proposal to move flights to 14 international destinations from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport. The proposal is meant to take effect from the summer 2027 schedule. Fadnavis has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol setting out his objections and saying these flights should continue to operate from Mumbai.

The proposal has come from Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), which runs the Mumbai airport. Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) recently told the Ministry of Civil Aviation that from next summer it wants to move to Navi Mumbai airport the flights connecting Mumbai with 14 international destinations. These include Kuwait City, Medina, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh and Sharjah.

Fadnavis has also suggested a different plan for redeveloping Terminal 1 (T1). He says the work should be done in phases so that the terminal does not have to be shut completely during construction. Under his plan, Terminal 1B would be built first. The operations of Terminal 1A would then be shifted to 1B, and 1A would be demolished and rebuilt. According to the Chief Minister, this would keep construction going in phases while passengers continue to fly. The current plan is to close Terminal 1 before work on the new terminal begins.

The dispute arises because the summer 2027 schedule, starting at the end of March, plans to cut international operations at Terminal 2 (T2) by about a third. MIAL wants to make room for about five million domestic passengers a year who would be displaced in the first phase of demolishing Terminal 1. The airport operator is reported to have told airlines that it cannot give them the slots they have sought in summer 2027, meaning some operations will have to be moved out of Terminal 2 for some time.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) holds 26 per cent of Mumbai airport. AAI is a central government body. The remaining 74 per cent is held by Adani Airport Holdings Limited.

Airlines have not welcomed the proposal. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents airlines worldwide, has also asked officials to redevelop Terminal 1 in phases. According to airline sources, Terminal 1, which handles 15 million passengers a year, is to be fully demolished by March 2028, after which new construction will begin. The new terminal is likely to be ready by December 2030. Airlines have warned that if Terminal 1 is closed completely, Mumbai airport could face a capacity shortfall for at least three years.

Redeveloping Terminal 1 is not easy because of its design. It is made up of T1A, T1B and T1C, which do not work as separate and fully independent facilities. Because of infrastructure limits and old equipment, Terminal 1A cannot be used at present. Terminal 1C has only six contact gates and depends on Terminal 1B for passenger check-in. As a result, passenger screening is split between two security-hold areas at Terminals 1B and 1C. This restricts passenger movement, prevents full use of the infrastructure and makes it hard to maintain service quality.