Mumbai Airport: Adani Airports-operated Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) is set to begin the phased redevelopment of the North Section of Terminal 1B from January 2027. The project is being undertaken due to safety concerns associated with the ageing infrastructure.
Despite the redevelopment work, the company expects around 91% of Mumbai Airport’s passenger traffic to remain unaffected. The phased approach is intended to reduce disruption for passengers as well as airline operations.
Mumbai Airport handles approximately 55 million passengers every year. Of these, around five million passengers, or nearly 9%, are expected to be temporarily affected by the redevelopment.
North Section of Terminal 1B to Be Demolished First
Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) said the first phase will focus only on the North Section of Terminal 1B. This portion accounts for around one-third of Terminal 1’s capacity.
According to AAHL CEO Arun Bansal, the decision to proceed in phases will allow most airport operations to continue while the ageing infrastructure is redeveloped.
He said that although some airline operations may temporarily shift to Navi Mumbai International Airport, this should not be viewed as a permanent transfer of Mumbai Airport’s traffic.
Redevelopment to Increase Terminal 1 Capacity
Safety concerns surrounding Terminal 1 have existed for some time, with temporary measures being used over the years to address them. The company said a fire incident at Terminal 1 in April this year further underlined the risks associated with continuing to operate the ageing infrastructure.
Once the redevelopment is completed, Terminal 1’s capacity is expected to increase by 33%, rising from the current 15 million passengers per annum (mppa) to 20 mppa.
AAHL said discussions with airlines regarding the future of Terminal 1 have been underway since 2020. The redevelopment proposal was also presented to the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) and incorporated into the approved tariff framework.
Navi Mumbai Airport to Support Temporary Shift
Airlines have been given the option of temporarily moving some operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport during the redevelopment. AAHL said support would be provided to help airlines make the transition smoothly.
Navi Mumbai Airport is also offering a 100% discount on landing fees for new international flights. In addition, the airport plans to provide cash vouchers to international passengers to help offset the difference in User Development Fee between Navi Mumbai and Mumbai airports.
According to Bansal, the availability of Navi Mumbai Airport allows the redevelopment of Terminal 1 to be carried out in phases instead of requiring the entire terminal to shut down. This approach is expected to reduce disruption for both passengers and airlines.
The two airports are expected to operate as complementary facilities and together address the aviation infrastructure needs of the Mumbai metropolitan region.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information provided by the concerned authorities and the stated agency report. Project timelines, passenger operations and airport arrangements may change depending on construction progress and operational requirements. Readers should refer to official announcements from the airport authorities for the latest updates.