Mumbai airport Terminal 1 is set to close from October 25 for redevelopment, with 265 flights planned to move to Navi Mumbai airport as the operator reorganises capacity across the metropolitan region.
According to a report by Navbharat Times – Mumbai, the closure is scheduled from 11.59 pm on October 25. Reconstruction work on the terminal is expected to begin in January 2027. Mumbai International Airport Limited has asked airlines to provide details of the flights they intend to suspend or shift temporarily, with the information expected to be released on October 7.
The airport operator has reportedly asked airlines to respond in writing by 4 pm on October 6. If an airline does not provide the required information by the deadline, Mumbai International Airport Limited may determine flight timings based on the capacity available at the airport.
The planned shift is linked to the redevelopment of Terminal 1, whose main building is described in the report as around 70 years old. The airport began operating in the 1940s from what was then the Santacruz Air Force base. It is currently managed primarily by Adani Airports Holdings Limited.
The report says that 265 of the airport’s 770 international weekly flights are to be moved to Navi Mumbai airport by October 25. IndiGo is expected to record the largest number of affected flights, with 74 of its 224 weekly international flights listed for relocation. Air India is expected to shift 33 of its 100 flights, while Akasa Air may move 11 of its 32 flights. Etihad Airways and Emirates are each expected to shift 10 of their 28 weekly flights.
The report also describes a redistribution of facilities at Mumbai airport. Terminal 1 currently handles domestic flights, while Terminal 2 is used mainly for international operations. Once Terminal 1 closes, more domestic passengers are expected to use Terminal 2. Space currently used for international operations, including passenger check-in counters, baggage conveyor belts, boarding gates and office areas, is planned to be made available to domestic airlines.
The change will require passengers to confirm the airport and terminal listed on their tickets, particularly where flights are transferred to Navi Mumbai. The two airports serve the same metropolitan region but are located in different parts of the Mumbai urban area, making airport access dependent on the passenger’s origin, destination and available transport connections.
The proposed transfer has drawn criticism from Priyanka Chaturvedi, a former Rajya Sabha member and leader of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. She questioned whether adequate infrastructure had been prepared before the decision and said passengers could face confusion, difficult travel between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, or the risk of flight cancellations. Adani Airports has not responded to her objections, according to the report.
The next immediate milestone is the airline submission deadline on October 6, followed by the expected release of the flight-shift details on October 7. The revised operating arrangement is planned to take effect from the night of October 25, ahead of the proposed reconstruction of Terminal 1 in January 2027.
