91% of Mumbai Airport’s passenger traffic to remain unaffected; Terminal 1 capacity expected to rise by 33% after redevelopment
Mumbai : Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL)-operated Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) will commence the phased redevelopment of the North Section of Terminal 1B at Mumbai Airport from January 2027. The redevelopment has been planned in view of safety concerns associated with the ageing terminal infrastructure.
Mumbai Airport currently handles approximately 55 million passengers annually (mppa), of which around 5 mppa, or approximately 9%, will be temporarily impacted during the redevelopment. This means nearly 91% of Mumbai Airport’s passenger traffic will remain unaffected during the initial phase.
To ensure continuity of operations and minimise inconvenience to passengers, airlines have been provided the option to temporarily relocate their operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) at their discretion. AAHL has stated that it will support airlines through the transition and provide the necessary assistance for a smooth migration of services.
Mr. Arun Bansal, CEO, Adani Airport Holdings Limited, said: “91% of Mumbai Airport’s passenger traffic will remain unaffected even as we undertake redevelopment of the age-old infrastructure that was in urgent need of repairs. Only the North Section of Terminal 1B, which accounts for around one-third of T1 of Mumbai Airport’s capacity, is being demolished in Phase 1 to minimise passenger inconvenience and operational disruption. The transition to Navi Mumbai Airport is temporary and does not represent a permanent shift of Mumbai Airport traffic.”
Terminal 1 redevelopment to increase capacity by 33%
Terminal 1 has been identified as a safety-related concern for several years, with temporary mitigation measures implemented in the absence of a viable alternative for passengers and airlines. Following the fire incident at Terminal 1 in April 2026, concerns surrounding continued operations at the ageing infrastructure have become more pronounced.
With Navi Mumbai International Airport now operational and providing an alternative for airlines and travellers, MIAL plans to proceed with the phased redevelopment of Terminal 1.
The redevelopment is scheduled to begin in January 2027 and is expected to increase Terminal 1’s capacity by 33%, from the current 15 mppa to approximately 20 mppa.
Mr. Bansal added that extensive consultations with airlines regarding the future of Terminal 1 have been ongoing since 2020. The proposed redevelopment was also presented before the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) and subsequently incorporated into the approved tariff framework.
“While we appreciate the concerns expressed by certain airlines, passenger safety must remain paramount, and any further delay in commencing this process could adversely impact the safety and convenience of millions of travellers,” he said.
Navi Mumbai Airport to support transition
Navi Mumbai International Airport is offering a 100% discount on landing fees for new international flights. The airport also plans to offer cash vouchers to international passengers to offset the difference in User Development Fee (UDF) between Navi Mumbai and Mumbai airports.
According to AAHL, Navi Mumbai International Airport has the infrastructure and capacity to accommodate additional passenger traffic that may temporarily transition from Mumbai Airport during the redevelopment.
“Its availability makes it possible to undertake the redevelopment of T1 of Mumbai Airport in phases, instead of shutting down the entire terminal and causing greater disruption to passengers and airlines,” Mr. Bansal said.
AAHL described Mumbai Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport as complementary aviation hubs, together addressing the growing and severely constrained aviation infrastructure requirements of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and India’s commercial capital.
