Navi Mumbai Airport 2026: Adani expects flight pauses
Adani Airport Holdings CEO Arun Bansal says a few international carriers may temporarily suspend Mumbai flights rather than relocate to Navi Mumbai.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Adani expects one or two foreign airlines to pause Mumbai flights rather than relocate.
- The shift stems from the April 2027 redevelopment of Terminal 1 at CSMIA airport.
- Indian carriers like Akasa Air and IndiGo are moving routes and launching destinations first.
- Navi Mumbai airport targets full utilization of its 20 million annual passenger capacity.
Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airport Holdings, stated that a handful of international airlines might choose to temporarily suspend their services to Mumbai rather than shift their operations to the newly developed Navi Mumbai International Airport amid sweeping aviation network changes.
Speaking during Adani Enterprises' second-quarter earnings call last week, Bansal noted that approximately one or two airlines might decide against operating from Mumbai for a couple of years. However, he emphasized that this potential loss would have virtually no impact on overall passenger counts.
This proposed operational shift is driven by the upcoming redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in April 2027, also operated by Adani. The redevelopment will push domestic flights into Terminal 2 and squeeze out international carriers, forcing them to relocate 45 kilometers away to Navi Mumbai.
"There might be one or two airlines that decide not to operate from Mumbai for a couple of years, but that will have almost no impact on the overall passenger count."
Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airport Holdings
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Splitting operations across two airports located 45 kilometers apart in a massive metropolis like Mumbai presents significant logistical hurdles for international carriers. Established networks, passenger transfer conveniences, and corporate contracts are typically tied to the primary hub, explaining why major global airlines resist dual-airport models due to surging operational costs and complexity.
While foreign carriers have requested more time and Air France-KLM declared in September that splitting its Mumbai presence is not an option, Indian carriers are moving ahead. Akasa Air is shifting its Mumbai–Jeddah flights in December, IndiGo plans to introduce 12 international destinations between February and July 2027, and Air India Group has announced seven international routes.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Navi Mumbai is engineered to handle 20 million passengers annually, comprising 15 million domestic and 5 million international travelers. Adani is targeting full utilization of this initial capacity by the end of the next financial year, with construction on Terminal 2 scheduled to begin this month.
Source: Skift
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