Mumbai International Airport (MIAL), operated by Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL), has announced a partial shutdown and phased redevelopment of the North Section of Terminal 1B, commencing in January 2027. The decision stems from long-standing safety concerns regarding the terminal's 60-year-old infrastructure.
Aging Infrastructure Poses Safety Risks
The North Section of Terminal 1B accounts for approximately one-third of Terminal 1's total capacity. AAHL stated that the redevelopment is crucial to address the aging structure, a concern that has been under consideration for several years. Temporary mitigation measures have been in place, but the need for a comprehensive overhaul has become imperative.
An incident involving a fire at Terminal 1 in April 2026 further underscored the inherent risks associated with continuing operations in the outdated facility, adding urgency to the redevelopment plans. Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airport Holdings, emphasized that deferring the upgrade of the aging infrastructure on safety grounds was no longer viable.
Impact on Passengers and Airlines
Mumbai Airport handles around 55 million passengers annually. The partial closure is expected to temporarily affect approximately 5 million passengers, representing about 9% of the airport's total traffic. However, AAHL assures that the remaining 91% of passenger operations will continue uninterrupted.
Airlines currently operating from the affected section of Terminal 1B will have the option to temporarily relocate their services to the newly developed Navi Mumbai International Airport. AAHL has committed to providing assistance to facilitate a smooth transition for these carriers.
Navi Mumbai Airport as a Complementary Alternative
The availability of Navi Mumbai International Airport has played a crucial role in enabling the phased redevelopment without a complete shutdown of Terminal 1, which would have caused significant disruption. Navi Mumbai Airport is actively incentivizing airlines, offering a 100% discount on landing fees for new international flights and planning cash vouchers for international passengers to offset user development fee differences.
AAHL envisions both Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports operating as complementary facilities to collectively address the growing capacity demands of the Mumbai metropolitan region during and after the redevelopment.
Future Capacity Boost for Terminal 1
Consultations with airlines regarding the future of Terminal 1 have been ongoing since 2020, with the proposed redevelopment also presented to and approved by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA). Once completed, the redevelopment is projected to significantly enhance Terminal 1's annual handling capacity by 33%, increasing it from 15 million to 20 million passengers.
The redeveloped terminal aims to restore all historical airline slots while also providing additional capacity, positioning Mumbai Airport to accommodate higher traffic volumes efficiently in the future.