Mumbai Airport shifts 12 international airlines to Navi Mumbai from March 2027
The redevelopment of Terminal 1 (T1) at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has moved a step closer, with the airport completing its destination-based slot allocation for the Summer 2027 schedule. The transition will see 12 international airlines shift their affected operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) from the end of March 2027, paving the way for the phased reconstruction of the ageing terminal.
Following consultations with international carriers, CSMIA has allocated slots to 38 of the 50 international airlines operating from the airport. The remaining 12 airlines, which together operate around 16 daily departures to 14 destinations, have not been allotted slots at CSMIA for the upcoming summer schedule and may operate these services from NMIA.
The airport said the arrangement would leave approximately 91 per cent of its existing traffic capacity unaffected, while facilitating the movement of around five million passengers annually to the new airport.
Domestic airlines, including IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air, had announced plans last week to shift flights serving 14 destinations to NMIA as part of the wider transition.
The shift in flight operations is intended to create the capacity required for the redevelopment and expansion of Terminal 1. The upgraded terminal will increase its annual passenger-handling capacity from the existing 15 million passengers per annum (MPPA) to 20 MPPA.
Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027, with the expanded facility targeted to become operational by March 2029. The four-level extension will include four additional domestic bus boarding gates, along with expanded passenger-processing areas, security screening infrastructure and crew facilities.
The redevelopment is aimed at addressing structural concerns associated with the ageing terminal while improving its infrastructure and passenger-handling capabilities.AGEING TERMINAL TO UNDERGO PHASED RECONSTRUCTION
Commissioned in 1964, Terminal 1 has a designed capacity of 15 million passengers annually. Structural audits conducted by Structwel in 2017 and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay in 2024 flagged concerns regarding the terminal's existing infrastructure.
Demolition work is scheduled to begin in April 2027, followed by redevelopment in phases.
CSMIA has also assured airlines that their historical slot allocations will be respected and will remain undisturbed during the temporary transition, ensuring continuity in their long-term operational arrangements.- Ends
Amit Bhardwaj is among the “politics-election buff” journalists redefining how news connects with a younger audience. Currently an Associate Editor at India Today, he has built a reputation for incisive on-ground reporting right from centre of politics - the Indian Parliament, to the machine of politics- high-stakes Indian elections and to civil aviation sector.
In the last eleven years, he has tracked India through a dozen state elections and consistently reported from the heart of India’s political churn, with a strong focus on the evolving dynamics of the opposition- INDIA bloc. He also tracks Aam Aadmi Party and Telugu Desam Party.
Known for blending easygoing storytelling with factual reportage, Amit Bhardwaj has delivered consistently from mines to skies. He has covered the rescue operations and rat miners in Joshimath. He extensively covered the tragic Air India 171 Ahmedabad crash in June 2025. His work on airline disruptions including the Indigo 2025 crisis, regulatory crackdowns, and aviation safety has added a distinct edge to his political reporting portfolio.
Amit was amongst few India journalists to witness Nepal's GenZ revolution firsthand as it was unfolding on the streets of Kathmandu. His documentary "Joshimath: A Cry For Help" was awarded ENBA Gold for Best In-depth Series.
Before joining India Today, he honed his craft at Newslaundry and Tehelka- in its prime, it was a thing- and has also contributed long-form pieces to The Caravan.
A distinct voice with a cheerfully incisive tone on the popular podcast Reporters Off Air, Bhardwaj brings insider perspectives and futuristic predictions .
Amit hails from Jharkhand, and often greets others with Jai Johar!
