Mumbai Airport handles approximately 55 million passengers per annum (mppa), of which around 5 mppa, or about 9%, will be temporarily deoperationalised during the first phase of the redevelopment. To maintain continuity of operations and minimise passenger inconvenience, AAHL has offered airlines the option to temporarily relocate their operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport at their discretion.
AAHL will support airlines during the transition and provide assistance to facilitate the relocation of services. According to the company, around 91% of Mumbai Airport’s passenger traffic will remain unaffected during the redevelopment.
“91% of Mumbai Airport’s passenger traffic will remain unaffected even as we undertake redevelopment of the age-old infrastructure that was in urgent need of repairs. Only the North Section of Terminal 1B, which accounts for around one-third of T1 of Mumbai Airport’s capacity, is being demolished in Phase 1 to minimise passenger inconvenience and operational disruption. The transition to Navi Mumbai Airport is temporary and does not represent a permanent shift of Mumbai Airport traffic,” said Arun Bansal, CEO, Adani Airport Holdings Limited.
Terminal 1 has been identified as a safety concern for several years, with temporary mitigation measures implemented due to the lack of an alternative facility for passengers and airlines. Following a fire incident at Terminal 1 in April 2026, concerns over continued operations have increased. With Navi Mumbai International Airport now operational and available as an alternative, AAHL said the planned closure and phased redevelopment of Terminal 1 can proceed.
The redevelopment of Terminal 1 is scheduled to begin in January 2027 and is expected to increase its capacity by 33%, from the current 15 mppa to 20 mppa.
“Extensive consultations with airlines on the future of Terminal 1 have been ongoing since 2020, and the proposed redevelopment was also presented before AERA and subsequently incorporated into the approved tariff framework. While we appreciate the concerns expressed by certain airlines, passenger safety must remain paramount, and any further delay in commencing this process could adversely impact the safety and convenience of millions of travellers,” Bansal said.
Navi Mumbai International Airport is offering a 100% discount on landing fees for new international flights. It also plans to provide cash vouchers to international passengers to offset the difference in User Development Fee (UDF) charged at Navi Mumbai and Mumbai airports.
AAHL said Navi Mumbai International Airport has the infrastructure and capacity to accommodate the additional passenger traffic that may be temporarily shifted from Mumbai Airport. The availability of the new airport will allow the redevelopment of Terminal 1 to be undertaken in phases rather than requiring a complete shutdown of the terminal.
“Its availability makes it possible to undertake the redevelopment of T1 of Mumbai Airport in phases, instead of shutting down the entire terminal and causing greater disruption to passengers and airlines,” Bansal said.
