Mumbai airport flight shift plans could change where passengers board several international flights from March 2027.
Twelve international airlines have not received slots at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) for the Summer 2027 schedule and may operate their affected services from Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
The decision follows the allocation of flight slots to 38 out of 50 international airlines that sought to operate from Mumbai airport during the upcoming summer schedule.
The 12 affected carriers together operate around 16 daily departures to 14 international destinations.
The transition is linked to the planned redevelopment of Mumbai airport’s Terminal 1.
The move is expected to transfer around five million passengers annually to Navi Mumbai, while the airport operator says approximately 91% of Mumbai airport’s existing traffic capacity will remain unaffected.
 Mumbai Airport Flight Shift: What Changes From March 2027?
The Summer 2027 aviation schedule begins in late March. Under the latest slot allocation, 12 international airlines have not been allotted slots at Mumbai airport for the upcoming season.
These airlines may operate their affected flights from Navi Mumbai International Airport instead. The change is expected to affect services connecting Mumbai with 14 international destinations.
The airport operator has indicated that the transition will be temporary.
It has assured airlines that their historical slot allocations will be restored once additional capacity becomes available following the planned expansion work.
 Which International Routes Could Be Affected?
The 14 destinations included in the wider transition plan are Bahrain, Dammam, Dhaka, Doha, Fujairah, Jakarta, Jeddah, Kathmandu, Kuwait City, Madinah, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh and Sharjah.
The affected services are operated by international carriers that connect Mumbai with destinations across the Gulf, West Asia and other regions.
The exact flight arrangements will depend on the airlines’ operational plans and the transition process.
Passengers should check their airline’s latest booking details and airport information before travelling.
A change in airport can affect travel arrangements, particularly for people who have planned road transfers, connecting journeys or airport pickups.
Why Is Mumbai Airport Shifting Some Flights?
The proposed relocation is connected to the redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
The terminal, which was commissioned in 1964, has a designed annual passenger-handling capacity of 15 million.
The redevelopment is planned to increase that capacity to 20 million passengers annually. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027, while the expanded terminal is targeted to become operational by March 2029.
The airport’s redevelopment plan also involves shifting some international operations to Navi Mumbai. This is intended to create room for the reconstruction work while allowing airport operations to continue.
Airlines Have Raised Concerns Over the Move
The proposed transition has faced resistance from several foreign airlines. Carriers have raised concerns about shifting operations to the new airport and the possible disruption to their existing services.
The Airline Operators’ Committee has also questioned the slot allocation process, with representatives reportedly describing the decision as unilateral.
The dispute has brought attention to the coordination required between airport authorities, airlines and aviation regulators.
Domestic airlines, including IndiGo, the Air India group and Akasa Air, have announced plans to shift some international operations to Navi Mumbai in a phased manner.
Their transition is part of the broader effort to balance traffic between the two airports.
For passengers, the key development is that some international flights currently associated with Mumbai airport may operate from Navi Mumbai during the redevelopment period.
Travellers should rely on updated airline notifications for confirmation of their departure airport and flight details.
