Mumbai’s aviation network is approaching an important transition as Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has asked airlines to submit their plans for shifting international operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport.
The airport operator has set November 3 as the deadline for airlines to submit their proposed transition plans.
The proposal involves temporarily shifting international traffic equivalent to approximately five million passengers annually from the existing Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai to facilitate the redevelopment of Terminal 1.
MIAL has previously proposed shifting 265 of the 770 weekly international departures from Mumbai airport.
However, the plan has faced opposition from several airlines, particularly foreign carriers, which have raised concerns about airport readiness, slot allocation, operational planning and passenger convenience.
IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air have indicated plans for shifting selected international operations as part of the transition.
The airport operator expects the redevelopment and expansion programme to improve the combined passenger-handling capacity of Mumbai’s two airports.
The transition could mark a major development in India’s airport infrastructure strategy. However, its success will depend on coordination between airport operators, airlines, regulators and international aviation stakeholders.