The sweeping infrastructure overhaul will require domestic airlines currently operating out of T1—including IndiGo, SpiceJet, Alliance Air, Akasa Air, and Star Air—to either temporarily suspend their operations or relocate flights. MIAL stated that affected carriers can shift flights to Terminal 2 (T2) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport or transition operations to the newly opened Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
Regulatory Pressure and Operational Realities
According to The New Indian Express, planning for the demolition of the 84-year-old T1 facility has been on the drawing board since January 2018. However, previous attempts to advance the project stalled because Mumbai lacked a viable alternative operating facility to absorb displaced traffic. MIAL officials noted that although the redevelopment was initially scheduled for mid-2025, it was deferred until the Navi Mumbai facility became operational within the metropolitan region.
During the 2025-26 financial year, T1 handled nearly 15 million passengers, while T2 processed 40 million, illustrating the heavy strain the closure will place on remaining infrastructure. Combined, Mumbai’s terminals manage an average of 950 flights daily, supported by 53 international and seven domestic carriers.
Stakeholder Friction and Industry Pushback
The sudden timeline acceleration has triggered friction within the aviation sector. While MIAL initially communicated to stakeholders that T1 redevelopment would begin in January 2027, an urgent AERA directive forced the operator to advance the schedule to October.
According to The Week, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has formally opposed the forced relocations and appealed to the Civil Aviation Ministry to intervene. IATA maintained that while it supports airport modernization, abrupt administrative shifts create unnecessary confusion. European carrier Air France-KLM has also expressed resistance to moving operations to Navi Mumbai.
Passenger Impact and Future Slot Protections
To cushion the transition, MIAL assured airlines that historic slot rights—permissions to land or take off at specific times—will be fully honored once the newly rebuilt terminal reopens at the decade’s end. Meanwhile, Akasa Air has already begun shifting flight operations, and discussions with other domestic carriers remain ongoing.
To attract traffic to the newly operational Navi Mumbai facility, AERA waived landing charges for new international routes on September 8, alongside multi-year financial concessions designed to ease the migration of major carriers away from congested central Mumbai terminals.