No flights to be moved from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai, says Devendra Fadnavis
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has opposed the proposed shifting of international flights from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), saying no flights should be moved out of the existing airport.
According to sources in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Fadnavis has written to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, conveying his opposition to the proposed relocation of international operations scheduled for next summer.
"There is no proposal to transfer flights from Mumbai airport to the new Navi Mumbai airport. Both airports will continue to operate according to their respective capacities and play an important role in meeting the growing demands of the aviation sector," Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis proposes alternative plan for Terminal 1 redevelopment
According to reports, in his letter to the Union Civil Aviation Minister, the Chief Minister has also suggested an alternative plan for the redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Mumbai airport to ensure that flight operations are not disrupted during construction.
Under the proposed plan, Terminal 1B should be constructed first, following which flights and operations currently handled by Terminal 1A should be shifted to the new facility. The existing Terminal 1A can then be demolished to make way for redevelopment. According to Fadnavis, this phased approach would allow airport operations to continue uninterrupted during the construction period.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI), a central government entity, holds a 26% stake in Mumbai airport while the remaining 74% is owned by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL).
Airlines raise concerns over shifting of international operations
The proposed relocation has faced resistance from airlines, particularly foreign carriers, which have raised concerns about the transition plan and the infrastructure connectivity to Navi Mumbai.
Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), the operator of CSMIA, had initially planned to shift flights to 14 international destinations, including Bahrain, Doha, Jeddah, Kathmandu, Kuwait, Muscat, and Riyadh, to NMIA from October 25. However, following objections from several foreign airlines, the operator deferred the proposed transition to March 2027.
MIAL wants to relocate or temporarily suspend as many as 260 international departures to accommodate domestic operations being shifted from Terminal 1.
Navi Mumbai International Airport, located in the satellite city of Navi Mumbai, is expected to ease congestion at the existing airport. However, concerns have also been raised over connectivity and infrastructure shortcomings that could make the commute difficult for passengers.
Meanwhile, Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa Air, along with Adani Airport Holdings, have announced plans to shift their international operations to NMIA in a phased manner over the coming months.
Mumbai airport capacity to increase to 65 million passengers
CSMIA currently has the capacity to handle around 55 million passengers annually. Following the redevelopment of Terminals 1 and 2, its annual passenger-handling capacity is expected to increase to 65 million passengers per annum (mppa).
The redevelopment of Terminal 1 is estimated to be completed by 2030, with the proposed phased construction aimed at minimising disruption to airport operations.