Nearly 91 per cent of international passenger traffic at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) is expected to continue without disruption during the redevelopment of Terminal 1 (T1). Under the Summer 2027 schedule, 39 of the airport’s 50 international airlines are set to maintain their operations from Mumbai.
The remaining 11 carriers, which collectively operate around 16 daily departures to selected destinations, could transfer these services to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) from the end of March 2027, according to people familiar with the development.
Major global airlines, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Thai Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France and Turkish Airlines, will continue flying from Terminal 2.
Commissioned in 1964, Terminal 1 is being redeveloped to address structural and safety issues identified in audits conducted by Structwel in 2017 and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in 2024. The assessments highlighted the need to replace the ageing facility with modern infrastructure.
The temporary relocation of selected services is likely to affect approximately five million passengers annually, accounting for around nine per cent of CSMIA’s total yearly traffic of nearly 55 million. The remaining 50 million passengers are expected to continue using the Mumbai airport.
Domestic airlines, including IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air, have also indicated plans to move certain routes to NMIA. The redistribution is intended to create sufficient operational space for construction while limiting inconvenience to passengers.
Higher capacity after redevelopment
The upgraded Terminal 1 is expected to handle 20 million passengers per annum (MPPA), compared with its existing capacity of 15 MPPA, representing an increase of nearly 33 per cent. Improvements will also cover passenger processing, security screening and other airport facilities. The reconstructed terminal is targeted to become operational by March 2029.
CSMIA has assured airlines that their previously allocated historical slots will remain protected throughout the temporary transition.
The redevelopment coincides with the expansion of Mumbai’s aviation network through NMIA. Shifting selected flights will allow the existing airport to undertake major construction while retaining most international connectivity. It will also enable Navi Mumbai’s new airport to accommodate additional airline operations as it becomes part of the metropolitan region’s aviation infrastructure.
Source: Mint
Pic Credit: Money Control
