Navi Mumbai airport shift likely delayed by a few weeks
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has asked domestic airlines and the airport operator to submit a firm transition plan for shifting operations from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), sources said.
The ministry has also proposed delaying the transition by a few weeks as stakeholders work to finalise operational arrangements for shifting up to 5 million international passengers annually from Mumbai airport to NMIA.
A consultation meeting between the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, airlines and the airport operator is scheduled for October 13 to firm up the transition plan. Another meeting is expected to be held by October 20 to discuss and finalise the roadmap.
The discussions are part of the phased redevelopment of Terminal 1 at CSMIA and the planned transition of airline operations to NMIA.
At the meeting, domestic airlines including IndiGo, Air India and Akasa said they had been in discussions with the airport operator on the proposed transition for the past 18 months.
Representatives of Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) and various domestic airlines attended the meeting.
AAHL outlined its preparedness to handle up to 5 million international passengers annually at NMIA and highlighted the airport’s supporting infrastructure and passenger facilities, including connectivity, in-flight catering, hotels and lounges.
During the nearly 90-minute meeting, AAHL leadership held detailed discussions with airline operators and addressed operational concerns and queries related to the proposed transition and redevelopment plan.
The discussions were constructive, with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to a smooth, coordinated transition while maintaining passenger convenience and operational efficiency, sources said.
A decision on the User Development Fee (UDF) for NMIA is still pending with the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The phased redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Mumbai airport is expected to increase its annual passenger-handling capacity from 15 million to 20 million passengers.
Mumbai Airport has decided to redevelop Terminal 1 to increase its annual passenger-handling capacity from 15 million to 20 million passengers, while upgrading infrastructure and improving passenger facilities. To support the phased redevelopment, some airline operations are proposed to shift to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
