Mumbai airport T1 rebuild: 12 foreign airlines may shift to Navi Mumbai
By Meera IyerGovernance & Policy Editor, Peepals Bharat
File photo: PIYUSH P PUJARI (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Foreign airlines have proposed moving some international flights from Mumbai's CSMIA to Navi Mumbai airport from late March 2027 while Terminal 1 is rebuilt.
What Happened
Foreign airlines have proposed moving some of their international flights from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) while Terminal 1 at Mumbai is demolished and rebuilt, according to reports on Wednesday, 4 November and Friday, 6 November 2026. Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), which runs CSMIA, told the Civil Aviation Secretary about the proposal, which the airlines made to Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. Twelve international airlines could move from the end of March 2027, and the first phase of Terminal 1's demolition is due to begin in April 2027. The plan is a proposal, not a final decision.
Key Facts
- Proposal: foreign airlines suggested shifting select international services from CSMIA to NMIA during the Terminal 1 (T1) redevelopment; MIAL informed the Civil Aviation Secretary.
- Airlines: 12 international airlines that have not been given slots at CSMIA for the schedule beginning in late March 2027, reported as about 16 daily departures; reports link these to 14 international destinations, including cities in the Gulf and South Asia, though one report ties the 14 destinations to Indian carriers instead.
- Timing: the shift would start from the end of March 2027, with one report giving 28 March 2027; the first phase of T1 demolition is scheduled for April 2027.
- Effect on Mumbai: about 91% of CSMIA's current traffic capacity is expected to remain unaffected.
- Passengers: the combined move of domestic and international flights is projected to shift nearly 5 million passengers a year from CSMIA to Navi Mumbai.
- New T1: the rebuilt terminal is meant to raise capacity from 15 million to 20 million passengers a year and to open by March 2029.
- Temporary: slots at CSMIA are expected to return to the airlines once the work is finished, according to the reports.
Why It Matters
Mumbai is one of India's main gateways for international travel. Rebuilding a terminal while keeping the airport running means some flights must go elsewhere for a time, and the Mumbai region now has a second airport in Navi Mumbai that can take some of that load. The proposal is the first detailed sign of how that split may work for international travellers.
For passengers, the main change would be where they fly from. Someone booking a flight from Mumbai to the Gulf or a South Asian city on one of the affected airlines from late March 2027 may find it leaves from Navi Mumbai rather than CSMIA. That affects travel time to the airport, transfer connections and, for those with onward flights, the risk of having to switch airports. Travellers who book early for April 2027 and later should check which airport their ticket names.
For the airport system, the plan is a test of the two-airport model. A rebuilt T1 with room for 20 million passengers a year, and a second airport able to take the overflow, should ease that pressure once both are complete.
Peepals calculation: About 16 daily departures shifting would mean roughly 5,840 departures a year (16 × 365 = 5,840) operating from Navi Mumbai instead of CSMIA. If about 91% of CSMIA's traffic capacity is unaffected, roughly 9% is affected (100 − 91 = 9). The new T1's capacity of 20 million passengers a year against 15 million today is a rise of one-third, or 33% (5 ÷ 15 ≈ 0.33). Our calculation from the reported figures.
| Mumbai T1 redevelopment | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| International airlines that may shift | 12 |
| Daily departures involved | About 16 |
| Shift begins | End of March 2027 |
| T1 demolition, first phase | April 2027 |
| CSMIA capacity unaffected | About 91% |
| New T1 capacity | 20 million passengers a year, from 15 million |
| New T1 due | March 2029 |
Impact
Short-term: Nothing changes for travellers yet. Airlines and the airport operators still have to finalise the plan, and passengers booking for late March 2027 onwards should watch for changes of departure airport.
Long-term: A bigger T1 and a working second airport should give Mumbai more room for international and domestic flights after 2029, with more choice of routes and timings.
Who is affected: International travellers from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and nearby areas; the 12 foreign airlines and their staff; Indian carriers that may also move some flights; MIAL and Adani Airport Holdings; and taxi, bus and metro services that connect the two airports.
What to watch next: a final decision on which airlines and flights move, before the shift planned from the end of March 2027, and the start of T1 demolition in April 2027.
Key Takeaway
Twelve foreign airlines may move some Mumbai international flights to Navi Mumbai airport from late March 2027 while Terminal 1 is rebuilt, with about 91% of CSMIA's capacity expected to be unaffected.
Questions and Answers
Why are international flights moving from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai?
Terminal 1 at Mumbai's CSMIA is to be demolished and rebuilt from April 2027. Foreign airlines have proposed moving some international flights to Navi Mumbai International Airport during the work, and MIAL has informed the Civil Aviation Secretary.
How many airlines and flights could shift to Navi Mumbai?
Reports say 12 international airlines with about 16 daily departures could move from the end of March 2027. The list is not yet final.
Will the move be permanent?
No. According to the reports, the slots at CSMIA are expected to return to the airlines once the Terminal 1 work is finished. The new terminal is due by March 2029.
What should travellers do now?
Travellers booking international flights from Mumbai for late March 2027 or later should check which airport is named on their ticket and watch for airline notices.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Meera Iyer, Governance & Policy EditorCovers Governance & Policy and more for Peepals Bharat. All stories by Meera Iyer
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Meera Iyer is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
