Mumbai’s Airline Exodus Could Last Two Years, Says the Man Running It

Mumbai’s airport shake-up is about to test how loyal international airlines really are to the city. Arun Bansal, chief executive of Adani Airport Holdings, said this week that “one or two” foreign carriers may suspend Mumbai service altogether rather than relocate to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport, possibly for a couple of years.

The trigger is the April 2027 redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, which pushes domestic flights into Terminal 2 and frees up pressure by shifting some international traffic to Navi Mumbai, about 45 kilometers away. Bansal argued that a pause by a few airlines would have almost no effect on overall passenger numbers.

Several carriers have already announced moves. Akasa Air shifts its Mumbai-Jeddah flights in December, IndiGo plans to phase in 12 international destinations between February and July 2027, and Air India Group has announced seven routes. Navi Mumbai is built to handle 20 million passengers a year, 15 million domestic and 5 million international.

Not everyone is on board. Air France-KLM said in September that splitting its Mumbai operations between two airports is “not an option.” Travelers booking Mumbai trips for 2027 should double-check which airport their airline will use before buying tickets.

Sources: Skift