Fadnavis writes to Centre against shifting Mumbai's international flights to Navi Mumbai airport

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has written to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation asking that no international flights be moved from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport. His office confirmed on Wednesday, 11 November, that the letter had been sent.

Fadnavis said there was no proposal from the state's side to transfer flights, and argued that the two airports should run independently, each at full capacity.

The operator's plan

According to reports, the Mumbai airport operator had proposed shifting about 33 per cent of its international operations, roughly 265 flights, to Navi Mumbai from the summer 2027 schedule. The move was meant to make way for demolishing and rebuilding the ageing Terminal 1, which handles about 15 million passengers a year. Flights to 14 international destinations, including Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat and Riyadh, were among those proposed for relocation.

Domestic carriers initially objected, but IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air later agreed to move services, while foreign airlines have continued to oppose the shift, reports said. Mumbai airport is majority owned by Adani Airport Holdings, with the Airports Authority of India holding the rest. The current plan envisages full demolition of Terminal 1 by December 2030.

The state's alternative

Fadnavis has suggested a three-step redevelopment that would avoid closing the terminal in one go. A new Terminal 1B would be built first, operations would then move there from the existing Terminal 1A, and only after that would 1A be demolished and rebuilt. State officials argue that a full closure could disrupt services for three years or more, while the phased route would keep passenger facilities working and spare airlines from changing their operating bases.

Reports did not carry a response from the Civil Aviation Ministry, the airport operator or the airlines to the Chief Minister's letter.

Why it matters

Mumbai is one of India's busiest gateways for international travel, particularly to the Gulf, where lakhs of Indians live and work. Which airport handles those flights affects travel time, connections and costs for passengers across western India. The outcome will also shape how quickly the Navi Mumbai airport builds up international traffic, and how Mumbai's older terminal is rebuilt without squeezing capacity.