Mumbai Airlines Back NMIA Shift Plan

It is said that foreign airlines that use the Mumbai airport are in favor of moving some international flights to the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), while the other airport, that is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), is going through a process of renovation in its terminals.

As reported on November 4, 2026, foreign airlines have recommended that flights be moved on the basis of destinations. This implies that foreign airlines should operate all flights to a certain destination from one airport only and not from both Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

The recommendations have been made following discussions between airlines and Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL).

Destination-Based Shifting Proposed

It is an attempt to reduce any complexities in terms of operations for both the airlines and the passengers.

There may be complications that arise due to operating flights for the same destination from two airports.

There may be complexities arising from the process of ground handling, crew allocation, movement of passengers, and schedule of flights.

It has been reported that MIAL has informed the Ministry of Civil Aviation about the suggestion of the airlines.

MIAL is currently planning to shift certain international services to NMIA while the re-development process continues at CSMIA.

Terminal 1 Redevelopment Driving the Move

The proposed transfer is associated with redevelopment works on Terminal 1 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The demolition is scheduled to start from April 2027.

This will impact the airport’s capacity and changes should be made in the operation of current flights. MIAL has been working on transferring some international flights to NMIA because of the construction process.

It has been mentioned that the slots previously given up in the process will be transferred back once the redevelopment is completed.

The new Terminal 1 is expected to be capable of handling 20 million passengers per year. As for the planned renovation of Terminal 2 and other constructions, it will raise the capacity of CSMIA.

Indian Airlines Have Already Announced Transition Plans

Many Indian airlines have already made known their plans for operating from NMIA.

IndiGo and Adani Airport Holdings have revealed their plans for a phased transition of 12 daily international flights from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai from February 2027 to July 2027. They will also launch daily flights to Kathmandu.

The domestic operations for Air India Express are set to begin in December 2026, with selected international routes commencing from January 2027. Some of the routes that have been considered for Air India Express include Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Doha, Muscat and Sharjah.

Akasa Air has announced its plan for operating Mumbai-Jeddah routes from NMIA from December 2026.

Foreign Airlines Seek Operational Clarity

Even though foreign airlines have advised on the adoption of destination-based allocation, the issues related to preparedness of the airport, infrastructure, and slot allocation are significant.

There have been concerns of airlines regarding cargo facility, catering, ground handling, passenger connectivity and operational cost of flying in two airports. There have even been calls for more information about the protection of the current slots.

Coordination is required between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and airport authorities with respect to airlines prior to finalizing the plan.

This change may prove beneficial for the dual airports of Mumbai as far as the distribution of passenger traffic is concerned.