Mumbai's aviation sector is facing significant turbulence as major airlines push back against Adani Airport Holdings Limited's (AAHL) directive to relocate a substantial portion of international flights to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). This move, intended to facilitate the redevelopment of Mumbai Airport's Terminal 1, has ignited a fierce dispute over operational logistics and financial implications.
The Mandate and Airline Opposition
AAHL has mandated that 33% of Mumbai Airport's international departure slots, specifically 265 out of 770 weekly slots, be temporarily moved to NMIA starting October 25, 2026, ahead of T1 redevelopment in January 2027. Major carriers like IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, Air India Express, Etihad Airways, and Emirates face significant reductions at Mumbai's T2.
Airlines are vociferously opposing this "forced" relocation, citing several critical issues. A primary concern is the disruption to their confirmed winter schedules (October 2026 to March 2027), for which bookings are already in place. They also highlight a perceived lack of consultation from Adani Airports regarding this pivotal decision. Adani Airport Holdings has set an October 6 deadline for airlines to provide details of operational slots they wish to discontinue from Mumbai Airport.
Operational and Financial Concerns Mount
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has formally expressed its opposition to India's Civil Aviation Ministry, raising doubts about NMIA's readiness across various crucial services. These include ground handling, aircraft maintenance approvals, catering, cargo facilities, crew accommodation, and overall connectivity.
International logistics provider Challenge Group has already announced a temporary suspension of its Mumbai operations, pointing to NMIA's inability to provide the necessary reliability for cargo. Air France-KLM also voiced concerns that splitting its long-haul operations between two airports would severely impact efficiency.
A major point of contention is the User Development Fee (UDF) at Navi Mumbai Airport, which is significantly higher—approximately 3.5 times that of Mumbai Airport. For international departing passengers, NMIA levies Rs 1,225 compared to Mumbai Airport's Rs 615-695 (economy/business). Adani Airport has proposed cash vouchers to international passengers to offset this difference, but airlines, which collect UDF from passengers, remain unconvinced.
Adani's Stance and Future Plans
Adani Airport Holdings Limited maintains that the relocation affects only about 9% (5 million out of 55 million) of Mumbai Airport's annual passengers temporarily. The operator states that extensive consultations with airlines regarding T1's future have been ongoing since 2020, and the redevelopment plans were presented to the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA).
“While we appreciate the concerns expressed by certain airlines, passenger safety must remain paramount, and any further delay in commencing this process could adversely impact the safety and convenience of millions of travellers,” said Arun Bansal, CEO, Adani Airport Holdings Limited.
Bansal affirmed that Navi Mumbai International Airport is a modern, fully equipped facility with ample capacity to manage the additional traffic during this transitional period. The T1 redevelopment aims to boost its capacity by 33%, from 15 million passengers per annum (mppa) to 20 mppa.