# Fadnavis Opposes Shifting International Flights to Navi Mumbai Airport Maharashtra Chief Minister demands phased redevelopment of Mumbai airport instead of flight relocation. - **Source:** [mint - industry](https://www.livemint.com/rss/industry) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/c4285fda-3d49-4143-bd27-bc7f5d468411 ## Opposition to Flight Relocation Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has formally opposed the proposal to transfer international flights from Mumbai to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. The Mumbai airport operator suggested moving services for 14 destinations starting in Summer 2027. Fadnavis insists that no flights should be moved out of the existing city airport. ## Phased Redevelopment Proposal Fadnavis has proposed an alternative timeline to the Union Civil Aviation Minister for the redevelopment of Terminal 1. He suggests developing Terminal 1B first, shifting operations from 1A to 1B, and then demolishing the existing 1A facility. This phased approach aims to keep parts of the terminal operational during the construction. ## Capacity Reduction Concerns Mumbai International Airport Ltd previously informed airlines of plans to reduce international operations at Terminal 2 by nearly one-third under the Summer 2027 schedule. This reduction is intended to accommodate five million domestic passengers displaced by the demolition of Terminal 1. The operator claims it cannot currently accommodate requested flight slots. ## Terminal Demolition Timeline The complete Terminal 1 facility, which handles 15 million passengers annually, is scheduled for demolition by March 2028. Construction of the replacement terminal will only commence after this demolition is finished. The new facility is expected to become operational by December 2030, creating a significant gap in the airport's overall passenger-handling capacity. ## Operational Impact Analysis The proposed arrangement aims to preserve approximately 91% of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport's existing traffic capacity. Despite this, the plan involves transferring five million passengers annually to the new Navi Mumbai airport. Industry stakeholders remain concerned about the long-term impact of these changes on the airport's total operational efficiency. ## IATA Industry Recommendations The International Air Transport Association has urged the civil aviation ministry to consider rebuilding Terminal 1 in stages. By demolishing and reconstructing individual sections sequentially, the industry body believes the airport can retain more operational capacity. This strategy would significantly reduce the disruption caused by the massive redevelopment project currently being planned. ## Airside Connectivity Challenges Operational dependence between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 extends to aircraft parking and movement. Currently, aircraft are sometimes parked at the Terminal 1 apron when Terminal 2 lacks space. Passengers and baggage are then transported between terminals via a perimeter road, which creates logistical challenges for the airport's daily ground operations. ## Proposed Infrastructure Solutions To address connectivity issues, the operator has proposed building a 3.042-km underground airside tunnel linking the aprons of both terminals. The plan also includes developing additional aircraft parking stands south of runway 09-27. These infrastructure improvements are designed to facilitate smoother transfers of passengers, baggage, and aircraft within the airport complex. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.livemint.com/industry/infrastructure/no-flights-should-move-out-of-mumbai-cm-devendra-fadnavis-opposes-shift-to-navi-mumbai-airport-11794416937116.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._