# Airlines Challenge Adani’s Mumbai Airport Capacity Reduction Plan Foreign carriers resist shifting international operations to Navi Mumbai amid redevelopment disputes. - **Source:** [mint - industry](https://www.livemint.com/rss/industry) - **Published:** 2026-11-02 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/0b01ee2e-e5b8-41e1-a043-4c89d67a6a22 ## Capacity Reduction Dispute Mumbai International Airport Ltd plans to reduce annual passenger capacity by 5 million starting April 2027. This decision involves shutting Terminal 1 for redevelopment and shifting 265 weekly international slots to the new Navi Mumbai facility. Airlines argue the move lacks transparency and sufficient justification from the airport operator. ## Airlines Seek Slot Protection The Airline Operators Committee-Mumbai, representing 46 carriers, has petitioned the aviation ministry to protect existing flight slots. They demand adherence to IATA guidelines, which typically protect historical slots for airlines maintaining 80% usage. The committee claims MIAL failed to provide a clear assessment or follow required consultation processes for changes. ## Operational Concerns Raised Airlines question the necessity of an immediate shutdown, noting Terminal 1 currently handles under 10 million passengers against a 15 million capacity. They also highlighted delays in Terminal 2 expansion, which was intended to add 5 million in capacity. Carriers argue this expansion should precede any closure of Terminal 1. ## Divergent Airline Strategies While domestic carriers like IndiGo have agreed to split operations to support long-term growth, foreign airlines remain resistant. Carriers like Emirates and Air France-KLM argue that Navi Mumbai lacks the necessary infrastructure and passenger demand. They have requested an extension until October 2027 to manage the transition more effectively. ## IndiGo Supports Transition IndiGo CEO Willie Walsh defended the shift, viewing Navi Mumbai as a strategic opportunity for long-haul operations. The airline plans to move 84 weekly international departures by February. Walsh emphasized that maintaining a good relationship with Adani Airport is vital, despite the concerns raised by other international carriers regarding the timeline. ## Regulatory Intervention Attempts The civil aviation ministry has intervened twice to resolve the standoff, following failed meetings on October 13 and 28. Despite these efforts, the parties remain deadlocked over the redevelopment schedule. The ministry is now under pressure to ensure that any capacity reduction follows due process and protects the interests of all stakeholders. ## Infrastructure and Traffic Context In fiscal year 2026, Mumbai airport managed 55 million passengers, including 17 million international travelers. The new Navi Mumbai airport offers an annual capacity of 20 million passengers. Adani has promised that all historical slots at the main airport will be restored once the redevelopment project is completed by 2030. ## Future Redevelopment Implications The standoff highlights the complexities of balancing urgent infrastructure upgrades with operational continuity in high-traffic aviation hubs. As Adani refuses to defer the redevelopment, the resolution of this dispute will set a precedent for how slot reallocation is managed during large-scale airport transitions in India's rapidly expanding civil aviation sector. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.livemint.com/industry/mumbai-airport-standoff-airlines-challenge-adani-s-proposed-5-million-passenger-capacity-cut-11793624660834.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._