Fadnavis opposes shifting 14 international routes from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai, writes to Centre

Differences are emerging between the state and the airport administration over the further expansion of Mumbai airport. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has opposed a proposal to move 14 of Mumbai's international routes to Navi Mumbai airport from the next summer schedule. He is understood to hold that no Mumbai flight will be moved elsewhere.

Fadnavis has written to the Union civil aviation minister on the matter. In the letter he has also suggested phasing the redevelopment of Terminal 1.

Adani Airport, which runs Mumbai airport, has told the Union ministry it plans to move flights on 14 international routes connecting Mumbai to Navi Mumbai airport from the next summer schedule. The destinations are Bahrain, Dammam, Dhaka, Doha, Fujairah, Jakarta, Jeddah, Kathmandu, Kuwait City, Medina, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh and Sharjah.

Fadnavis has suggested that instead of moving flights to Navi Mumbai, the Terminal 1 redevelopment plan be changed. Speaking on Tuesday, he said Terminal 1B should be developed first. Operations of 1A should then be shifted to 1B, and the existing 1A terminal demolished.

Under this plan the existing terminal would not have to be shut down completely before new construction begins. 1B would be readied first and 1A's operations run from there, after which the old 1A could be demolished and rebuilt. One part of the terminal could thus stay in use while the rest is completed in stages.

The Airports Authority of India holds 26 per cent of Mumbai airport. The remaining 74 per cent is with Adani Airport Holdings Limited. The Authority is a body under the Central government.

Last month, Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) told airlines it plans to cut Terminal 2's international flights by one-third. The change is intended from the summer schedule starting at the end of March 2027. The first phase of demolition at Terminal 1 will displace 5 million domestic passengers a year, and the plan is to make room for their domestic flights in Terminal 2.

MIAL has told airlines it is not possible to provide the slots they need for summer schedule flights as per their demand. The administration says that is why shifting some flights out of Terminal 2 for a time is necessary.

Airlines have also opposed the proposal to move some international flights to Navi Mumbai. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents airlines worldwide, had suggested to the Union ministry that Terminal 1 be redeveloped in phases. Its position is that parts of the terminal be demolished and rebuilt in sequence so that the airport's large passenger capacity is not cut all at once.

Terminal 1, with a full capacity of 15 million passengers a year, is planned to be demolished by March 2028. Construction of the new terminal will begin only after that, and it is expected to be ready by December 2030. Sources linked to airlines say that if Terminal 1 is closed entirely, Mumbai airport could face a major shortfall in passenger-handling capacity for three years or more.

One source said the main reason for Terminal 1's operational problems is its split structure. The three parts, 1A, 1B and 1C, do not function as separate, fully capable terminals. Because of structural limits and old equipment, 1A is currently unusable. 1C has direct access to only 6 aircraft. For passenger registration, 1C depends on 1B. Passenger screening and security are divided between 2 security holding areas in 1B and 1C. This limits passenger movement, leaves facilities underused and affects service quality.

The dependence between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is not limited to passenger facilities and also shows on the airside. MIAL has proposed a 3.042-km underground link between the airside areas of the two terminals. It also plans additional aircraft parking bays south of Runway 09-27.

At present, when parking space at Terminal 2 falls short, some aircraft are parked in the Terminal 1 area. Passengers and baggage then have to be taken from one terminal to the other via the peripheral road and Runway 14-32, which complicates airport operations further.

While preparations for the expansion and redevelopment of Mumbai airport are under way, there is disagreement over moving international flights to Navi Mumbai. Airlines and passengers are now watching what the Central government and the airport administration decide on Fadnavis's phased redevelopment option.