The Ministry of Civil Aviation stepped in on Tuesday to halt the immediate transfer of international flights from Mumbai to the newly built Navi Mumbai International Airport. The government directed the airport operator, Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), to defer the proposed migration by a few weeks so that a comprehensive and structured transition strategy can be formulated. The directive follows strong resistance from airlines, emphasizing the need for coordinated planning between all stakeholders. Adani Airport Holdings oversees flight operations at both Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and the Navi Mumbai facility.
Airlines Push Back Against Mandatory 33 Percent Flight Cut
The controversy emerged after Adani Airport Holdings directed international carriers operating out of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to either slash their existing international flight operations by 33 percent or shut them down entirely by October 25. Airlines expressed sharp opposition to this abrupt mandate, pointing out that an arbitrary one-third reduction right ahead of the peak winter and holiday travel schedule would severely disrupt passenger itineraries, flight networks, and fleet utilization. Moving operations to a brand-new facility without adequate lead time raised significant operational apprehensions among carrier executives.
Terminal 1 Redevelopment Triggered Relocation Proposal
The push to relocate flight traffic stems from a major infrastructure upgrade at the primary Mumbai hub, where the operator is preparing to undertake extensive renovation and modernization work at Terminal 1. To manage airside capacity constraints during the construction period, AAHL sought to transfer a section of international traffic to the Navi Mumbai airport. To resolve the resulting impasse, Civil Aviation Secretary Sameer Kumar Sinha convened a crucial high-level coordination meeting in Delhi, bringing together airline representatives, Adani Airport Holdings, the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Ninety-Minute Deliberations Led by Civil Aviation Secretary
During the 90-minute session in Delhi, Civil Aviation Secretary Sameer Kumar Sinha proposed putting the relocation on hold for several weeks while the operator and airline carriers draft an orderly operational blueprint. During the discussions, officials from Adani Airport Holdings presented detailed operational roadmaps, asserting that the recently inaugurated Navi Mumbai facility possesses the capacity to handle up to 5 million international flyers annually. Company representatives addressed airline apprehensions regarding ground handling, technical infrastructure, and airport connectivity while reiterating the necessity of the Terminal 1 redevelopment.
Final Roadmap to Be Decided on October 13 and October 20
The discussions concluded on a collaborative note, with stakeholders agreeing that any flight transition must preserve operational efficiency and prevent passenger inconvenience. According to the agreed timeline, airline companies and the airport operator will hold consultations on the draft transition framework on October 13. A follow-up high-level meeting has been scheduled for October 20 to finalize the formal roadmap and operational timelines before any international services are officially migrated to Navi Mumbai.
