Mumbai Airport Unveils T1 Redevelopment Plan, Proposes Shifting 5 Million Passengers To Navi Mumbai

In a collaborative effort to enhance the infrastructure of Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), the Airline Operators Committee (AOC) and Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) discussed the redevelopment of Terminal 1 (T1). The goal is to shift approximately 5 million passengers annually (mppa) to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) during the redevelopment process.

The structural audit reports by Structwel (2017) and IIT Bombay (2024) have emphasized the urgency of undertaking the redevelopment, as T1 has been delayed for over nine years. Despite the transition, 91% of the current traffic at CSMIA remains unaffected. Once completed, the total capacity of CSMIA will increase to 65 million passenger per annum (mppa).

Leading carriers IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air have finalized transition plans for their international flights to NMIA, accommodating around 3 million passengers per year. The remaining 2 million mppa will be temporarily shifted to MIAL's T2 for the Northern Summer 2027 season.

MIAL has requested airlines to share their transition plans by November 3, 2026, to ensure the smooth completion of the 5 mppa transition. The airport operator assures that the temporarily transitioned international traffic will be restored once the T2 expansion is completed.

The redevelopment vision for T1 envisions a passenger-centric architectural transformation, with an emphasis on enhancing passenger experience and airport efficiency. While the specifics of the design remain undisclosed, the airport aims to create a modern, culturally-inspired gateway to Mumbai. The transition process will be phased to avoid operational disruption, with demolition beginning in April 2027 and the new T1 expected to be operational by December 2030.