Mumbai Airport Defers International Flight Shift to March 2027

Adani Airports Holdings Ltd (AAHL) and Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) have deferred the partial shifting of international flights from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) until the summer schedule beginning March 2027. The decision follows a meeting on October 13 between airport leadership and the Airline Operators Committee (AOC) after airlines opposed a mandate to move approximately 265 of 770 weekly departures by October 25, 2026.

The shift was intended to balance traffic between the two AAHL-owned airports and facilitate the redevelopment of Mumbai airport's Terminal 1. The Ministry of Civil Aviation intervened in the dispute, directing MIAL to defer the transition and seek a mutually agreed approach with airlines. MIAL has since assured the airline community that historical slot allocations will remain unchanged during the winter schedule to minimize disruptions.

A joint working group will spend two weeks preparing an implementation plan for the Terminal 1 infrastructure. Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha is scheduled to review the transition plan on October 20, with a follow-up meeting between stakeholders set for October 28. While MIAL claims airlines committed to supporting the redevelopment, industry sources dispute that such an agreement was reached.