Redevelopment of Mumbai's Terminal 1 Takes Shape

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, operated by Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) of the Adani Group, is set to begin demolishing a section of its aging Terminal 1 (T1) on January 15, 2027, according to a letter the operator sent to the civil aviation ministry. The move marks the first phase of a redevelopment plan for the terminal, which is nearly 80 years old and has already seen partial demolition, as reported by Business Standard, The Economic Times, and The Times of India.

The operator has informed the ministry that it plans to commence "demolition of North Section of Terminal 1-B, starting January 15, 2027," as stated in a letter dated August 13 from MIAL's Chief Airport Officer, Vishnu Mohan Jha, to Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha. The letter explains that "Phase 1 of the redevelopment plan of BOM Terminal 1 shall be limited to just the North Section of Terminal 1-B (catering to around 5 mppa traffic) in order to ensure minimal impact on airline operations and passenger convenience."

The airport currently has a capacity of over 50 million passengers and handles over 950 flight movements daily. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have capacities of around 15 million and 40 million passengers, respectively.

Traffic Redistribution Ahead of Demolition

To accommodate the redevelopment, MIAL has initiated a redistribution of air traffic. At least one-third of all international air traffic movements will shift to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) starting October 1, followed by a move of at least one-third of T1's air traffic to T2 from October 25, as reported by multiple sources including Business Standard and The Economic Times.

MIAL has asked airlines to shift over 30 per cent of international flights from Terminal 2 to Navi Mumbai from October, according to The Hindu Business Line, which also reported that the operator wants to move 30 per cent of flights from T1 to T2 and 30 per cent of international flights from T2 to Navi Mumbai. The airline operator has informed the Civil Aviation Ministry and initiated discussions with airlines regarding the proposal.

The transition will be phased: MIAL said it will provide around three-and-a-half months of transition assistance to airlines before the demolition begins on January 15 next year. The operator is engaging with domestic and international airlines on the partial movement of their flights from T2 to Navi Mumbai and from T1 to T2, according to the letter reported by The Times of India and others.

Akasa Air has already relocated its domestic operations from T1 to T2 effective August 1, as part of the operational realignment. Currently, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Alliance Air, and Star Air operate from T1, as reported by The Hindu Business Line.

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

MIAL has requested the ministry to consider setting up a Joint Transition Group (JTG), chaired by the civil aviation secretary, to ensure effective coordination with key stakeholders and minimal inconvenience to passengers, according to the letter dated August 13 as reported by Business Standard and The Times of India.

In a statement to the ministry, MIAL said: "MIAL shall continue to engage closely with airlines, Navi Mumbai airport, government authorities, regulatory agencies and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate seamless implementation of the transition plan, maintain continuity of airline operations and minimise passenger inconvenience," as quoted by The Hindu Business Line.

Both Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports are owned by the Adani Group, as noted in reports from Business Standard and The Economic Times.