Navi Mumbai airport international flight shift deferred to March 2027

A plan to move nearly a third of international flight operations from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport has been put on hold until 28 March 2027, ensuring stable passenger operations ahead of the busy winter travel season.

The deferral to the 2027 summer schedule was finalised during a consultative meeting on Tuesday between senior airline executives and Adani Airports Holdings Limited leadership, following constructive mediation by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Airport authorities confirmed that historical slot allocations will be strictly respected, with zero operational disruptions planned for the upcoming winter schedule.

Why the flight transfer was delayed

The planned shift was designed to manage passenger capacity while operator Mumbai International Airport Limited undertakes a comprehensive overhaul of its ageing Terminal 1. Under the modernization plan, several domestic carriers using Terminal 1 will move to Terminal 2, requiring some international passenger and cargo traffic to transition to the newly built Navi Mumbai facility, situated roughly 35 kilometres away.

Adani Airports had initially proposed transferring between 30% and 33% of international flight movements by October 2026. However, international carriers and the International Air Transport Association sought a phased timeline and formal consultations to safeguard schedules and maintain seamless global connectivity to India's financial capital.

Following a review session chaired by Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha on 6 October, the Centre directed the operator and airline representatives to convene and align their schedules collaboratively.

Timeline for the transition

What happens next

During Tuesday's meeting, Adani Airports director Jeet Adani and chief executive Arun Bansal reassured carriers that disruptions would be kept to an absolute minimum. The operator confirmed it will provide comprehensive operational support to any airline choosing to start flights at the Navi Mumbai site ahead of schedule.

A dedicated joint working group will spend the next fortnight drafting a detailed execution blueprint for the Terminal 1 redevelopment. Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha is scheduled to review the transition strategy on 20 October, followed by another round of discussions between airlines and airport executives on 28 October.

The structured roadmap allows India's aviation sector to expand airport capacity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region smoothly, giving carriers adequate preparation time while upgrading existing gateway terminals to world-class standards.