Adani Airports to Begin Phased Redevelopment of Mumbai Airport’s Terminal 1
91% of Mumbai Airport Passenger Traffic to Remain Unaffected
Mumbai: Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL)-operated Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) will begin the phased redevelopment of the North Section of Terminal 1B at Mumbai Airport from January 2027, citing safety concerns associated with the ageing, nearly 60-year-old terminal building.
The redevelopment will initially involve demolishing the North Section of Terminal 1B, which accounts for about one-third of Terminal 1’s capacity. The phased approach intends to minimise disruption to passengers and airline operations.
Mumbai Airport handles approximately 55 million passengers per annum (mppa). Of this, around 5 million passengers, or about 9% of the airport’s total passenger traffic, will be temporarily affected by the redevelopment. Consequently, around 91% of passenger traffic is expected to remain unaffected.
To ensure continuity of operations, AAHL has given airlines the option to temporarily relocate their services to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) at their discretion. AAHL said it will support airlines during the transition and provide assistance to facilitate the relocation of services.
“Ninety-one per cent of Mumbai Airport’s passenger traffic will remain unaffected as we undertake the redevelopment of ageing infrastructure that requires urgent attention,” said Arun Bansal, CEO, Adani Airport Holdings Limited.
“Only the North Section of Terminal 1B, which accounts for around one-third of Terminal 1’s capacity, is being demolished in Phase 1 to minimise passenger inconvenience and operational disruption. The transition to Navi Mumbai Airport is temporary and does not represent a permanent shift of Mumbai Airport traffic,” he added.
T1 redevelopment to begin in January 2027
Terminal 1 has been identified as a safety concern for several years, with temporary mitigation measures implemented due to the lack of a viable alternative for passengers and airlines.
Following a fire at Terminal 1 in April this year, concerns over continued operations have become more pronounced, according to AAHL. With Navi Mumbai International Airport now operational and providing an alternative for airlines and passengers, the phased redevelopment of Terminal 1 is set to begin.
The redevelopment, scheduled to commence in January 2027, is expected to increase Terminal 1’s capacity by 33%, from the current 15 mppa to 20 mppa.
“Extensive consultations with airlines on the future of Terminal 1 have been ongoing since 2020. The proposed redevelopment was also presented before the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) and subsequently incorporated into the approved tariff framework,” Bansal said.
“While we appreciate the concerns expressed by certain airlines, passenger safety must remain paramount. Any further delay in commencing this process could adversely affect the safety and convenience of millions of travellers,” he added.
Incentives for international flights at Navi Mumbai Airport
Navi Mumbai International Airport is offering a 100% discount on landing fees for new international flights, according to AAHL.
The airport also plans to offer cash vouchers to international passengers to offset the difference in the User Development Fee (UDF) charged at Navi Mumbai and Mumbai airports.
AAHL said Navi Mumbai International Airport is a modern, fully equipped facility with the infrastructure and capacity to handle additional passenger traffic that may be shifted from Mumbai Airport.
“Its availability makes it possible to undertake the redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Mumbai Airport in phases, instead of shutting down the entire terminal and causing greater disruption to passengers and airlines,” Bansal said.
AAHL described Mumbai Airport and Navi Mumbai Airport as complementary facilities serving the aviation requirements of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, where infrastructure remains highly constrained.