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Mumbai Airport Faces Flight Cuts Ahead of Terminal 1 Redevelopment
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Forbes India•05-10-2026, 15:07
Mumbai Airport Faces Flight Cuts Ahead of Terminal 1 Redevelopment
- •The Ministry of Civil Aviation will meet with airlines and Adani Airport Holdings on October 6 to discuss proposed international flight cuts from Mumbai airport.
- •MIAL plans to temporarily discontinue 265 of 770 weekly international departures from Terminal 2 starting October 25 to accommodate domestic flights displaced by Terminal 1 redevelopment.
- •Airlines have strongly opposed the reductions and raised concerns about shifting operations to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport.
- •IndiGo, Air India, and several international carriers face significant cuts to their weekly international departures.
- •IATA has also opposed the forced relocation of airline operations, urging that transitions be driven by market forces rather than mandates.
Key Questions Answered
Mumbai airport international flights are facing temporary cuts because operator MIAL is preparing to redevelop the ageing Terminal 1, requiring capacity at Terminal 2 to be freed up for domestic flights.
Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) plans to begin phased redevelopment activities from October 2026, with the demolition of the north section of Terminal 1B officially scheduled to start on January 15, 2027.
Airlines have opposed the proposed 33 percent reduction in international flights and questioned the technical basis for cutting established departure slots, raising their concerns with civil aviation authorities and the ministry.
