Industry Odisha Bureau, Oct 07: Adani Airports plans to cut 265 weekly international departures from Mumbai from 25 October. It wants airlines to move some flights to Navi Mumbai. Carriers call the plan rushed and costly.
A plan to rebuild Mumbai’s oldest terminal has sparked a standoff with airlines. Adani Airports controls both Mumbai’s main airport and the new Navi Mumbai International Airport. It wants some international flights to move temporarily to the new airport. Airlines say the move is rushed and poorly planned
Why the shift
Mumbai’s Terminal 1 currently handles domestic flights. Its phased redevelopment is due to begin in January 2027. Adani Airports cites the 60-year-old building’s age and safety concerns. As sections close, about 5 million passengers a year will need space elsewhere. Mumbai International Airport (MIAL), the operator, plans to use Terminal 2 for them. That requires freeing capacity now used by international flights.
A one-third cut
From 25 October, MIAL plans to suspend 265 of 770 weekly international departures. The cut affects 46 airlines, Indian and foreign. MIAL wants carriers to move part of those operations to Navi Mumbai. It says the shift is temporary. Flights would return once T1 redevelopment is complete.
Adani Airports says only about 9% of Mumbai’s annual passenger traffic will be affected. It adds that the rebuilt T1 will have 33% more capacity.
Who is hit hardest
IndiGo faces the largest impact, with 74 of 224 weekly international departures affected. Air India would see 33 of 100 affected. Akasa Air faces 11 of 32, and Air India Express seven of 21. Emirates and Etihad each face 10 fewer weekly departures.
Why airlines object
Airlines say moving an international service is far from simple. It touches aircraft and crew planning, ground handling, catering, cargo and maintenance. It also needs regulatory approvals and affects passenger connections. The International Air Transport Association has called it a “forced relocation”. IATA argues the transition plan was not properly worked out with airlines.
Carriers also doubt Navi Mumbai’s infrastructure and transport links can handle large international operations. Winter schedules have already been planned and sold, they add. For foreign airlines with few flights, running two bases for one city is costly.
Stefan Gumuseli, general manager of Air France-KLM, said the shift would cut operational efficiency. It would split teams and ground handling, he said. It would also make the group’s long-haul network harder to manage.
Process, not the project
Airlines do not oppose rebuilding T1. Their objection is how the international cut was decided. They have questioned the basis for trimming departures by roughly a third. They have also sought capacity calculations and records of past consultations.
MIAL says it has consulted airlines since 2020. Several carriers skipped its 16 September meeting, it says. Others missed its 25 September deadline for transition plans.
Fees and deadlines
Passengers face another wrinkle. Navi Mumbai’s user development fee is higher than Mumbai’s. Adani Airports has proposed measures, including cash vouchers, to offset the gap.
MIAL gave airlines until 4pm on 6 October to name slots to drop or shift. Otherwise, it said it might allocate slots itself based on operational capacity.
A dispute over method
Both sides agree Mumbai needs a modern T1. The dispute is over timing, consultation and who bears the cost. With winter schedules already sold, airlines see little room to adjust.
