MIAL Proposes Shifting 14 International Routes to Navi Mumbai

Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has proposed relocating flights serving 14 international destinations from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The plan targets routes to cities including Dhaka, Kathmandu, Jakarta, and several West Asian hubs to reduce CSMIA's annual capacity by 5 million passengers.

This shift is intended to enable the redevelopment of CSMIA's Terminal 1, which audits by Structwel and IIT Bombay identified as having severe structural vulnerabilities. MIAL asserts that 91 percent of CSMIA's capacity will remain unaffected and that the transition will create an integrated travel experience.

Domestic carriers including IndiGo, Akasa Air, and the Air India Group have agreed to phased transitions. Air India Express domestic flights and Akasa Air's Mumbai-Jeddah service are slated to move in December 2026, while IndiGo plans to relocate 12 daily international departures between February and July 2027.

However, foreign airlines represented by the Mumbai Airline Operators Committee have resisted the proposal. These carriers have petitioned the Ministry of Civil Aviation, calling the move a "unilateral decision." Their objections center on higher user charges at NMIA, logistical challenges for passengers and crew, and the potential loss of legacy slots at CSMIA.