MUMBAI AIRPORT FACES MAJOR FLIGHT RESET AS TERMINAL 1 REDEVELOPMENT LOOMS

October 2, 2026

Mumbai’s aviation network is set for a major operational reshuffle as the city airport prepares to close Terminal 1 for redevelopment, forcing airlines to temporarily reduce international services from October 25.

Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has asked 46 airlines operating from Terminal 2 to cut a combined 265 international flights every week. The reduction represents around one-third of the airport’s present 770 weekly international departures and is linked to the need to create additional capacity at Terminal 2 for domestic flights currently handled by Terminal 1.

Among Indian carriers, IndiGo is expected to reduce 74 international flights a week, while Air India will cut 33. Akasa Air, Air India Express and SpiceJet have also been asked to reduce their international schedules. Foreign airlines including Emirates and Etihad Airways are expected to make corresponding reductions in their weekly services.

The changes are part of a larger transition ahead of the redevelopment of Terminal 1, scheduled to begin in January 2027. Around five million domestic passengers a year are expected to be shifted from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, requiring the reallocation of check-in counters, baggage facilities and boarding gates.

The transition has, however, generated concerns among airlines. Several carriers have questioned the proposed redistribution of flights, while the industry has called for a coordinated framework that protects existing operational arrangements and provides sufficient time for airlines to adjust their schedules.

Navi Mumbai International Airport is also expected to play a growing role during the transition, with some international operations being shifted there. The development is expected to create a two-airport system for the Mumbai metropolitan region, although airlines have differed over how quickly and extensively operations should be redistributed.

The restructuring marks one of the biggest changes to Mumbai’s aviation network in recent years. While the redevelopment is intended to expand and modernise airport infrastructure, the immediate transition will require airlines and passengers to adapt to reduced international schedules, changing terminals and the increasing role of Navi Mumbai in the region’s air connectivity.