Mumbai airport Terminal 1 revamp: Why airlines are refusing to shift international flights to Navi Mumbai?
Airlines are resisting the proposed shift of international flights to Navi Mumbai, citing operational costs, slot allocation disputes and Mumbai airport's redevelopment plans.
Airlines operating from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport are opposing a proposal to transfer their international flights to Navi Mumbai International Airport. The dispute stems from concerns over operational complexity, commercial viability and disagreements over flight slots. The redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport will temporarily reduce its capacity by around 5 million passengers from the summer of 2027.
While MIAL, the airport operator, suggests airlines can independently decide their operating plans for the summer 2027 schedule and later recover their slots, the Airline Operators Committee (AOC) representing commercial airlines has strongly opposed any transfer of international operations to Navi Mumbai without airlines' consent.
The AOC argues that MIAL has not provided sufficient evidence to justify the reduction or cancellation of slots and has called for a detailed redevelopment plan. The two airports are around 50 km apart, which could pose additional challenges for airlines managing ground services and equipment across separate locations.
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