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Mumbai’s main airport operator and international airlines are in a dispute over moving some flights to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport. The global airline body IATA has called the plan a “forced relocation” and asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to step in.
What Mumbai Airport Has Asked Airlines to Do
Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has asked airlines to shift 265 of their 770 weekly international departures to Navi Mumbai airport. That is about 34.4 per cent of the total. MIAL made the request in a communication to airlines on Thursday, 1 October.
MIAL says the move is linked to the redevelopment of Terminal 1, which is due to be demolished and rebuilt. Terminal 1 flight operations are set to stop from 25 October 2026 and remain closed until the new terminal opens in 2029-30.
Key Dates in MIAL’s Plan
MIAL has asked airlines to say in writing, by 4 pm on 6 October, which flights they plan to “temporarily discontinue” at Mumbai airport. If an airline does not reply, MIAL says it will decide the affected slots itself.
According to the same communication, the discontinued flights would take effect from 26 October. A slot is the time window an airline is given to take off or land at an airport.
How Individual Airlines Are Affected
MIAL’s list shows IndiGo would see 74 of its 224 weekly international departures affected. Air India would move 33 of 100, and Akasa Air 11 of 32. Emirates and Etihad would each move 10 of 28.
Why IATA Is Objecting
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) wrote to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on 9 September. IATA, which has more than 370 airline members, said it is fundamentally opposed to forced relocations. It said any transfer should be voluntary, workable for airlines and backed by a full readiness process agreed with them.
IATA also said the plan was not developed in consultation with airlines and had created confusion for airlines and passengers. It added that it supports Navi Mumbai airport and Mumbai’s long-term two-airport system.
Readiness Concerns at Navi Mumbai
IATA raised several questions about the new airport in its letter:
- Whether its aircraft maintenance operator holds the approvals needed for the aircraft types international airlines fly
- Whether catering is suitable for international flights, since airlines understand the airport currently has only dry catering
- Whether there are enough stands for widebody aircraft used on long-haul routes
Slots and Capacity
IATA objected to any arrangement in which airlines would give up their existing Mumbai slots. It also asked for the analysis behind the capacity problem at Mumbai airport and the reason one-third of each airline’s operations was chosen. Both airports are controlled by the Adani Group, which IATA said makes the issue especially important.
What MIAL Says
An MIAL spokesperson said Terminal 1’s demolition was originally planned for mid-2025 under the airport’s tariff order. MIAL says it deferred the work because airlines had no alternative facility, and that Navi Mumbai now provides one.
MIAL says the redevelopment will begin in January 2027. Airlines can either move to Navi Mumbai or temporarily suspend operations from 25 October until the rebuilt terminal opens in 2029-30. MIAL says it will honour airlines’ historic slot rights when the new terminal is ready. It calls the arrangement temporary.
Airlines Did Not All Take Part
In its latest communication, MIAL said a number of airlines chose not to attend a meeting on 16 September. It also said several airlines did not send their transition plans by the 25 September deadline. MIAL says it is therefore proceeding on the basis of available operating data and its own planning assumptions.
Airlines and Cargo Operators React
Air France-KLM said on 30 September that it does not plan to split its Mumbai passenger flights between the two airports. The airline group said splitting would reduce efficiency and complicate teams and ground handling.
Malta-based Challenge Group has temporarily suspended all its cargo flights to and from the Mumbai region. In a statement on LinkedIn, the company said the current setup at Navi Mumbai does not give it the reliability and certainty it needs.
Background: Navi Mumbai Airport
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of Navi Mumbai International Airport on 8 October 2025. The airport was built at a cost of ₹19,650 crore.
What Happens Next
No public response from the Ministry of Civil Aviation has been found so far. The next date to watch is 6 October, when airlines must tell MIAL which flights they plan to discontinue. Passengers should check with their airline for any change in schedule or airport.
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