Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) and the Airline Operators Committee (AOC) have held discussions on a phased transfer of five Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) in international traffic from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Navi Mumbai International Airport
(NMIA) to facilitate the redevelopment of CSMIA’s Terminal 1 (T1).
During the discussions, MIAL presented detailed redevelopment schedules for T1 and shared artistic impressions of the proposed terminal, outlining its vision for a modern, passenger-centric facility. The airport operator reiterated the urgency of replacing the ageing terminal, whose redevelopment has been delayed for more than nine years. Structural audits conducted by Structwel in 2017 and IIT Bombay in 2024 highlighted safety and structural concerns, reinforcing the need for redevelopment.
A CSMIA spokesperson said the proposed transition was part of a coordinated strategy to facilitate the redevelopment while maintaining passenger safety and minimising operational disruption.
“The artistic impressions shared with the Airline Operators Committee reflect our vision of creating a safer, more welcoming and distinctly Mumbai gateway. The proposed terminal will place passenger experience, cultural identity and modern infrastructure at the heart of its design,” the spokesperson said.
CSMIA currently has an overall passenger-handling capacity of approximately 55 MPPA. According to MIAL, the temporary transition of five MPPA would leave around 91 per cent of its existing passenger traffic unaffected. Following the redevelopment of T1 and the expansion of Terminal 2 (T2), the airport’s total capacity is expected to rise to 65 MPPA.
The proposed redevelopment is expected to increase T1’s annual passenger-handling capacity from 15 MPPA to 20 MPPA, a rise of around 33 per cent. Check-in counters are planned to increase from 74 to 109, while the number of passenger security lanes is expected to expand to 15, alongside five transfer security lanes. Contact stands are proposed to increase from seven to 25, and the terminal is expected to feature 12 e-gates. Baggage reclaim belts will also increase from five to 11.
The artistic impressions envisage a spacious departure entrance, a naturally lit check-in hall featuring local art, landscaped indoor areas and premium lounges. The proposed design also includes expansive glass facades overlooking the runways and a giant flamingo sculpture at the arrivals kerbside, reflecting Mumbai’s natural biodiversity. The airport said the visuals represent its architectural aspirations rather than a definitive preview of the final design.
MIAL informed airline representatives that IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air had finalised plans to move their international operations to NMIA, accounting for approximately three MPPA. To meet the overall five MPPA transition target, the operator has proposed temporarily accommodating the remaining traffic through slots at CSMIA’s T2 during the Northern Summer 2027 (NS27) season. The airport operator has asked airlines to submit their transition plans by November 3, 2026, to enable the finalisation of a coordinated plan covering the full five MPPA target.
The operator shared its vision plan for the new terminal and assured airlines that international traffic temporarily shifted from CSMIA would be restored once the T2 expansion was completed.
According to the proposed timeline, demolition of the existing T1 is scheduled to begin in April 2027. The G+3 north-west pier expansion at T2 is expected to become operational by March 2029, providing additional capacity to manage interim traffic. The new T1 is targeted for completion in December 2030.
The redevelopment and expansion programme is intended to support the long-term growth of air travel in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and strengthen the complementary roles of CSMIA and NMIA as the region’s two major airports. Once the planned works are completed, CSMIA is expected to have the capacity to handle approximately 65 MPPA.
The phased transition is expected to enable redevelopment to proceed while preserving airport operations and providing a pathway for Mumbai to expand its aviation capacity in the coming years.