Mumbai airport, airlines clash over Navi Mumbai shift
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A man takes a picture of a Vistara airline passenger aircraft parked at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. File | Photo Credit: Reuters
A dispute is brewing between Adani-run Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (MIAL) and airlines over a proposed operational reshuffle during the phased redevelopment of Terminal 1 (T1).
The plan involves moving domestic traffic from T1 to Terminal 2 (T2), while shifting some international services to the more distant Navi Mumbai International Airport.
In a letter to airlines, a copy of which has been reviewed by The Hindu, MAIL warned that as several airlines failed to attend a September 16 meeting and have yet to submit transition plans sought by September 25, it will therefore proceed with a previously announced 33% reduction in international departure slots from 11.59 pm on October 25 amounting to 265 of T2’s 770 weekly international slots.
The reductions will affect 46 airlines. IndiGo faces 74 slot cuts, Air India 33, while Emirates and Etihad Airways face 10 each. Airlines have until 4 pm on October 6 to identify the slots they want temporarily discontinued; otherwise, MIAL will determine them “based on operational, capacity and implementation considerations.”
From October 26, MIAL will allocate the vacated T2 facilities, including check-in counters, baggage belts, gates and office space to domestic operators moving from T1. The shift is designed to accommodate about 5 million passengers annually.
Global airlines body International Air Transport Association has opposed what it described as a forced relocation of airlines from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, saying any transfer should be voluntary and backed by airline consultation. “IATA is fundamentally opposed to forced airline relocations,” it said.
The industry body also warned that Navi Mumbai’s wider operating ecosystem may not yet be ready for international services, citing uncertainty over maintenance approvals, catering, ground-handling capacity, widebody aircraft support, passenger connectivity and other service-provider arrangements.
In a press statement Mumbai airport said that the move to Navi Mumbai airport would be temporary . Navi Mumbai will also offer 100% waiver on landing charges for new international flights as well as vouchers to international passengers to offset the difference in the User Development Fee (UDF) levied at Navi Mumbai and Mumbai Airports.
T1 redevelopment will begin from January 2027 which will increase its capacity by 33% - up to 20 million passengers per annum (mppa) from current 15 mppa.
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