The civil aviation ministry has asked Adani Airport Holdings Ltd to defer the proposed partial shift of international flights from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport, after airlines opposed the scale and timing of the transition. A revised plan is expected to emerge after stakeholder meetings scheduled for October 13 and October 20.
The proposed shift is linked to the planned renovation of Terminal 1 at Mumbai airport. AAHL, which operates both Mumbai airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport, had asked airlines to move 33 per cent of their international flights to Navi Mumbai or discontinue those services by October 25, according to the report. Airlines objected to the proposal, prompting the ministry to intervene in the transition plan.
Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha chaired a meeting with representatives of airlines, AAHL, the Federation of Indian Airlines, the International Air Transport Association and the Airports Authority of India in New Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting lasted nearly 90 minutes and focused on the operational concerns raised by airlines and the preparedness of Navi Mumbai airport to absorb additional international traffic.
The ministry has proposed delaying the transition by a few weeks and asked airlines and the airport operator to submit a firm plan for shifting operations. The next discussion between airlines and AAHL is scheduled for October 13, while another meeting on October 20 is expected to consider the final contours of the transition.
The dispute places the two-airport system in Mumbai at an important operational stage. Mumbai airport and Navi Mumbai airport are being managed by the same airport operator, but moving international services between them requires coordination among airlines, airport authorities, regulators, ground-handling agencies and passengers. The timing and scale of any shift will affect flight schedules, airport access, airline operations and passenger journeys across the Mumbai metropolitan region.
At the meeting, AAHL executives said Navi Mumbai airport was prepared to handle up to 5 million international passengers annually. They cited airport connectivity, in-flight catering facilities, hotels, lounges and other supporting passenger amenities as part of the airport’s readiness. The operator also responded to airline queries about the proposed transition and Mumbai airport’s redevelopment plan.
The ministry’s request for a delay means the October 25 deadline proposed by AAHL is now subject to further discussions. The report said all stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to a coordinated transition while maintaining passenger convenience and operational efficiency. The final allocation of international flights between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports will be considered at the forthcoming meetings.
