Mumbai airport revamp: Will UAE-India passengers pay more to fly?

Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) is set to undergo a phased redevelopment of Terminal 1, which is expected to commence in January 2027. As part of the preparations, MIAL has proposed temporarily discontinuing 265 of the 770 weekly international departure slots at Terminal 2, affecting 46 airlines. The airlines have been given until October 6 to identify the slots they wish to temporarily discontinue, or MIAL will select the slots based on operational and capacity considerations.

For UAE passengers, particularly those flying from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Mumbai, the proposed changes could impact their travel plans. If their airline is among those temporarily relocating operations, they may need to travel to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) instead. The shift could result in longer road journeys, additional travel time, higher transport costs, and changes to flight timings or airport details.

While Adani Airports, the operator of MIAL, plans to provide cash vouchers to international passengers to offset the difference in the User Development Fee (UDF) between Navi Mumbai and Mumbai airports, airlines have rejected the proposed reduction in international capacity. They argue that the winter schedule was approved in June 2026 and that they have based their aircraft deployment, route planning, and passenger bookings on those approved slots.

The dispute between MIAL and airlines could determine the extent of the impact on international flights and the specific services that may be affected.