Several flights from Mumbai Airport will be shifted to Navi Mumbai International Airport from October 1 as redevelopment work at Terminal 1 proceeds, increasing travel times and transport costs for passengers from Mumbai, Thane and the eastern and western suburbs.
The change is expected to affect nearly 30% of international flights, according to a report by Loksatta. The shift comes ahead of the Dasara-Diwali travel period, when demand for air travel traditionally rises. Passengers who currently use Mumbai Airport will have to travel across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to reach the Navi Mumbai facility for the affected services.
Some flights have already been moved. Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa Air services connecting Mumbai with Delhi are now operating from Navi Mumbai Airport. The report also identified morning flights to Delhi and Bengaluru, as well as an afternoon Akasa Air service to Kochi, among the services affected by the changes.
The revised departure point is creating particular difficulties for passengers who rely on public transport. Travellers with private vehicles can make the journey to Navi Mumbai, but passengers from Thane and Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs may have fewer convenient options. The report said many passengers currently have to depend on private taxis, increasing the cost of reaching the airport.
Some morning services are especially important for business and connecting travellers. Flights to Delhi are used by passengers attending same-day meetings, while services to Bengaluru are used by corporate and other travellers seeking early arrivals. The additional journey to Navi Mumbai could add between two and two-and-a-half hours to the overall travel time for some passengers, according to the report.
An Akasa Air flight scheduled to leave for Kochi at 11.30 a.m. has also been shifted. Tourism professionals cited by Loksatta said travellers were showing reluctance to use the Navi Mumbai departure point and were asking about alternatives operating from Mumbai Airport. An Air India Express service that previously stopped at Bengaluru before continuing to Delhi, and an IndiGo Bengaluru flight scheduled at 7.05 a.m., were also reported to be affected.
The relocation of flights is linked to the redevelopment and dismantling work at Terminal 1. From October 25, one-third of the flights operating from Terminal 1 are expected to be moved to Terminal 2. The changes may also affect airport-side workers, including loaders and drivers, who could face uncertainty as operations are redistributed between terminals and airports.
Navi Mumbai Airport is expected to help reduce pressure on Mumbai Airport over time. In the immediate term, however, passenger access remains a key operational issue. The scale of the impact will depend on the final flight schedules, available transport connections and the length of the Terminal 1 redevelopment programme.
