The Shiv Sena (UBT) has supported Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s opposition to shifting international flight operations from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), claiming that the new facility does not yet have adequate infrastructure to accommodate the requirements of international airlines.
The controversy began after Adani Group-led Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) directed airlines to relocate services connecting 14 international destinations during the redevelopment of the existing Terminal 1. The proposed shift was scheduled to take effect from the summer flight timetable beginning March 2027. Destinations affected included Doha, Jeddah, Dhaka, Kathmandu and Muscat.
Several airlines reportedly objected to the proposed relocation, prompting Fadnavis to approach the Union Civil Aviation Ministry with an alternative arrangement. The Chief Minister suggested completing the redevelopment of Terminal 1B first and transferring operations from Terminal 1A to the newly developed section. Terminal 1A could then undergo reconstruction without disrupting flight services.
Backing this proposal, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut argued that international carriers were hesitant to move their operations to NMIA because of inadequate facilities. He claimed that several foreign airlines had expressed reservations about the relocation and warned that the move could affect the new airport’s appeal among international operators.
Raut also urged the state government to prioritise the expansion of Mumbai’s existing airport. He called for the authorities to take possession of encroached airport land and rehabilitate slum residents occupying the premises rather than shifting international operations elsewhere.
“Now Fadnavis has realised the reality of the Navi Mumbai airport’s quality. The airport is substandard and that’s why international airlines are reluctant to shift there,” said Raut.
The political backing for Fadnavis’s proposal adds another dimension to the debate over the distribution of flight operations between the two airports. The proposed alternative aims to ensure that redevelopment work at Mumbai airport proceeds while minimising inconvenience to airlines and passengers.
Source: Hindustan Times
