The transfer of 265 weekly international departures from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) may take place after Diwali rather than on October 25, as airlines prepare a transition plan following a Union aviation ministry-led meeting.
The proposed shift involves 265 of CSMIA’s 770 weekly international departures. Adani-run Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), which operates CSMIA, is understood to have offered to begin moving the flights after Diwali. The offer was discussed at a 90-minute meeting convened by Union aviation secretary Samir Sinha on Tuesday, according to a report by The Times of India.
Representatives of Air India, IndiGo, Akasa, Adani Airports and the Airports Authority of India attended the meeting. Indian carriers reportedly acknowledged that the transfer issue had been under discussion for nearly 1.5 years. The meeting did not produce a final decision but was described as having moved discussions in a positive direction.
Sinha is understood to have asked airlines to submit their flight-shifting plans at the earliest. The stated priority is to give passengers sufficient advance notice and avoid last-minute changes to airports, schedules or travel arrangements. The next stakeholder meeting is scheduled for the following Tuesday, with a final decision possibly being taken on October 20.
The proposed redistribution is linked to the planned reconstruction of older sections of CSMIA’s Terminal 1. The terminal is more than six decades old, and structural safety concerns have reportedly been raised in studies conducted during the tenures of both the previous operator, GVK, and the current operator, Adani. The reconstruction is considered necessary on safety grounds, although the supplied report does not specify the findings or recommendations of those studies.
The reconstruction is expected to be carried out in phases rather than through a single demolition, in order to limit disruption to airport operations. Moving a portion of international flights to NMIA would therefore create additional operating capacity at CSMIA while work is undertaken at Terminal 1. The precise airlines, routes and schedules to be shifted have not yet been announced.
The proposed change would also place greater importance on coordination between the two airports, airlines and airport authorities. Passengers would need clear information on their departure airport, access arrangements and any schedule changes before the transition begins. The final operating plan remains subject to discussions among the stakeholders and the decision expected after the next meeting.
