Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has opposed the proposed relocation of international flight services from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), stating that flights should not be shifted out of Mumbai.
Fadnavis has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, suggesting an alternative arrangement for the redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Mumbai airport. He has proposed constructing a new Terminal 1B first, transferring operations from the existing Terminal 1A to the new facility and subsequently demolishing and rebuilding Terminal 1A.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has opposed shifting 14 international flight routes from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai.
He has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu.
He proposed constructing Terminal 1B before demolishing the existing Terminal 1A.
MIAL has proposed relocating services covering 14 international destinations from March 2027.
Several airlines and IATA have raised objections to the proposed operational changes.
The final decision on the relocation proposal remains pending.
The proposed phased approach is intended to allow airport operations to continue while the existing terminal is redeveloped, rather than shifting the affected international flight services to Navi Mumbai.
The development follows a proposal by Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), the operator of CSMIA, to shift flights serving 14 international destinations to Navi Mumbai International Airport from the Summer 2027 schedule, beginning in March.
The destinations covered under the proposal are Bahrain, Dammam, Dhaka, Doha, Fujairah, Jakarta, Jeddah, Kathmandu, Kuwait City, Madinah, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh and Sharjah.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The proposed changes could affect international passengers, airline operations and flight connectivity through Mumbai. The decision will also influence how the two airports manage passenger traffic and capacity during the redevelopment of Mumbai airport's Terminal 1.
The proposed relocation has faced opposition from several airlines. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also called for a phased redevelopment approach to avoid a substantial reduction in airport capacity during construction.
MIAL's proposal is linked to the redevelopment of Terminal 1, which requires adjustments to flight operations and passenger-handling capacity during the construction period. The airport operator has also discussed changes to international operations at Terminal 2 to accommodate the redevelopment plan.
Fadnavis's intervention has brought an alternative redevelopment arrangement into consideration. His proposal would involve completing the replacement terminal before removing the existing facility, potentially allowing Mumbai airport to maintain its operations during the construction process.
The Union Civil Aviation Ministry is examining the objections and proposed operational arrangements. The final decision on the relocation of the 14 international flight routes remains pending.
