Mumbai airport operator Adani Airports Holding Limited has deferred a proposed cut of 265 weekly international departures from Terminal 2 until March 2027, allowing airlines to operate their full winter schedules after negotiations over the redevelopment of Terminal 1.
The proposal would have reduced weekly international departures at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport from 770 by 33 per cent. It was intended to create capacity at Terminal 2 for passengers displaced by the planned demolition and rebuilding of the T1-B section from January 2027.
At a meeting with the Airline Operators Committee on Monday, Adani Airports Holding Limited director Jeet Adani and chief executive Arun Bansal assured airlines that disruption would be kept to a minimum and historical slot allocations would be honoured, according to a spokesperson for Mumbai International Airport Limited. The airport operator and airlines also agreed to establish a joint working group to plan the redevelopment of Terminal 1’s ageing infrastructure.
Airlines will continue with their winter schedules as planned. They have reportedly committed to supporting the redevelopment and helping balance traffic from the summer schedule, which begins at the end of March. A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for October 28, while airlines, airport authorities and slot allocation teams work out the operational details.
The dispute began after airlines were asked either to shift operations voluntarily to Navi Mumbai International Airport or temporarily stop domestic flights from T1-B. They were given until October 25 to decide. Airlines objected to the directive, citing concerns about the consultation process and its timing, which coincided with the start of the winter schedule.
T1-B handles about five million passengers a year, accounting for nearly one-third of Terminal 1’s traffic. The section is scheduled to be demolished and rebuilt from January 2027, with the redeveloped facility expected to be commissioned in 2029-30. The proposed reduction in international flights at Terminal 2 was put forward as a way to absorb passengers displaced during the construction period.
Airlines rejected the proposed reduction and sought structural safety audit reports for T1, alternatives to shifting operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport, and data on capacity utilisation at both Mumbai terminals. On October 6, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation deferred the proposal and directed the airport operator and airlines to reach a mutually agreed solution.
MIAL has said it will fully support airlines that voluntarily move operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport. The airport operator and airlines have reiterated their commitment to developing Mumbai airport, with the next formal review scheduled for October 28.
