Mumbai airport T1 redevelopment: CSMIA plans phased shift of 5 million international passengers in 2027

Mumbai airport`s Terminal 1 is undergoing repairs. FILE PIC

Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has proposed a phased transition of five million passengers per annum (mppa) of international traffic from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to facilitate the redevelopment of Terminal 1 (T1). The airport operator has asked airlines to submit their transition plans by November 3, 2026, for the proposed shift during the Northern Summer 2027 season.

The proposal was discussed at a meeting between MIAL and the Airline Operators Committee (AOC) on Wednesday as part of discussions on the dual-airport strategy for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

According to MIAL, IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air have finalised plans to transition their international flights to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), accounting for around three million passengers per annum. To meet the overall target of five million passengers annually, MIAL has proposed temporarily transitioning the remaining slots out of CSMIA's Terminal 2 during the Northern Summer 2027 (NS27) season.

Terminal 1 redevelopment and airport capacity

MIAL reiterated the need to demolish and redevelop Terminal 1, stating that the project had been delayed by more than nine years. It cited structural audit reports by Structwel in 2017 and IIT Bombay in 2024, which highlighted the urgency of the redevelopment.

CSMIA currently has a capacity of around 55 million passengers per annum. MIAL said the temporary transition of five million passengers annually would leave approximately 91 per cent of the airport's current traffic unaffected.

The airport operator added that CSMIA's total capacity would increase to 65 million passengers per annum following the redevelopment of Terminals 1 and 2.

MIAL said the demolition of Terminal 1 and the resulting temporary reduction in traffic at CSMIA had already been factored into the approved tariff order following stakeholder consultations. The operator also shared its vision plan for the redeveloped Terminal 1.

Airlines asked to submit plans by November 3

MIAL has asked airline operators to submit their transition plans by November 3, 2026, to help finalise the proposed transition of five million passengers per annum of international traffic.

The airport operator assured airlines that the temporarily transitioned international traffic would be restored to CSMIA once the Terminal 1 expansion was completed.

MIAL said the phased transition was intended to prioritise passenger safety and minimise operational disruption during the redevelopment.