Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has opposed the proposed relocation of international flights from Mumbai Airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), stating that no flights should be shifted out of the city. He has written to the Union Civil Aviation Minister, suggesting an alternative approach to redevelop Terminal 1 (T1) without disrupting existing airport operations.
Under his proposal, Terminal 1B would be developed first, followed by the transfer of operations from Terminal 1A to the upgraded facility. The existing 1A structure could then be demolished to make way for redevelopment. Explaining the plan, Fadnavis said, “I have written to them to first develop Terminal 1B, shift 1A to 1B and then take down the existing 1A terminal.”
The proposal comes amid opposition from airlines and citizens to plans for transferring international services to NMIA. Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) recently informed airlines that international operations at Terminal 2 (T2) could be reduced by one-third from the Summer 2027 schedule, beginning in late March. This would create capacity for five million passengers annually in domestic operations displaced by the initial phase of T1 demolition.
Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) subsequently informed the aviation ministry about relocating flights connecting Mumbai to 14 international destinations, including Doha, Dubai? No, the proposed list includes Bahrain, Dammam, Dhaka, Fujairah, Jakarta, Jeddah, Kathmandu, Kuwait City, Madinah, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh and Sharjah.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also advocated phased redevelopment to prevent a significant reduction in airport capacity.
The existing 15-million-passenger-capacity T1 is scheduled for complete demolition by March 2028, with reconstruction expected to begin afterwards. The replacement terminal is targeted for completion by December 2030.
Airport sources have highlighted infrastructure limitations, explaining that T1A, T1B and T1C operate as interconnected facilities rather than independent terminals. Meanwhile, MIAL has proposed an underground airside tunnel connecting the T1 and T2 aircraft parking areas to improve operational efficiency.
Source: Times of India
