Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) on Wednesday announced that operations in Terminal 1, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will be completely halted from October 25. Airlines have been given the option of suspending flight operations or relocating their flights to T2.
T1, popularly known as the Santacruz airport, handles domestic flights and will reportedly be shut until 2029-30. IndiGo, SpiceJet, Alliance Air, Akasa Air and Star Air are the airlines that operate in the terminal. These airlines are expected to shift to T2, locally known as Sahar International Airport, by October 25. Akasa Air has already begun shifting its operations. Hence, check your booking to reconfirm your terminal.
International flights might also be affected. To handle the increased traffic in T2, MIAL has separately asked airlines to shift a third of all international flights from Terminal 2 to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport starting October 1. While the October 1 transition has not yet materialised recheck whether your airport code is BOM (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) or NMI (Navi Mumbai International Airport), if you’re departing from or arriving in Mumbai in October.
Why is Mumbai airport moving flights?
MIAL is shifting airlines to Navi Mumbai and T2 to redevelop T1 at CSMIA. The demolition and reconstruction of T1 has been planned since January 2018. In a statement, MIAL said this in response to an Airport Economic Regulatory Authority order.
“While the demolition work was originally planned to commence in mid-2025, MIAL voluntarily deferred it due to the absence of an alternative operating facility for airlines. With Navi Mumbai airport becoming operational, airlines now have an alternative option within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Stakeholders, including airlines, have been informed that Terminal 1 redevelopment will commence in January 2027. Hence, they may choose to relocate operations to Navi Mumbai or temporarily suspend operations effective October 25th until the new Terminal 1 at MIAL is commissioned in 2029-30. This is a temporary transition, and MIAL will honour airlines’ historic slot rights once the new terminal becomes operational,” MIAL said.
Both Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and Navi Mumbai International Airport are operated by the Adani Group.
The International Air Transport Association has opposed the MIAL’s move to shift airlines to Navi Mumbai and has asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to interfere. IATA maintained that it stands for the development of the airport but does not agree with forced relocations of airlines. IATA said MIAL’s communication about the shift from October 1 has created confusion and a better transition should be implemented. Air France-KLM, a French-Dutch airline, is also resisting the shift to Navi Mumbai.
