As the much-anticipated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) prepares for its launch in June 2025, a series of strategic changes are underway in Mumbai’s aviation landscape.

Leading Indian carriers, including the Air India Group and IndiGo, are poised to transfer an equal share of their flights from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to NMIA. At the same time, some foreign airlines are likely to opt for a single-hub operation.

Aviation authorities said that negotiations with airlines are well underway. “Indian carriers will shift an equal percentage of their flights to NMIA, whereas many foreign airlines prefer to concentrate their operations at one airport,” a senior official noted. This dual strategy is designed to optimise operational efficiency as NMIA comes online.

Parallel to these developments, the Adani Group is evaluating plans for the demolition of Terminal 1 (T1) at CSMIA. The T1 complex, which consists of three segments, T1A, T1B, and T1C, has evolved over the past five decades, with buildings dating from 1965, 1992, and 2010. The group is considering whether to dismantle the entire terminal in a single operation this winter or adopt a phased approach.

The decision on T1’s demolition is pivotal as it will influence the pace at which CSMIA’s capacity is enhanced. Presently, T1 manages around 1.5 crore passengers per year.

With plans to boost Terminal 2 (T2) capacity from 4 crore to 4.5 crore passengers per year by mid-2026, the timetable for T1’s removal is crucial. Terminal 1 sources suggest that demolition work might commence within 4-5 months after NMIA becomes operational.

Airlines are pressing for prompt clarity on these matters to better manage passenger communications.

“Informing travellers that their flight has been relocated to NMIA for a July or August schedule without definitive plans can cause significant inconvenience,” a senior airline representative explained.

Moreover, Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) is in discussions with aviation authorities about lifting restrictions on hourly flight movements at CSMIA.

The current limits, set two years ago by the aviation ministry,  reduce operations during peak periods from 46 to 44 flights per hour, and further down to 42 during off-peak hours. MIAL is confident that with enhanced runway capacity, CSMIA can handle more flights without compromising efficiency.

“For context, Gatwick, the world’s busiest single-runway airport, manages around 54-55 flights per hour,” said an official.

These coordinated measures are part of a broader strategy aimed at alleviating congestion at CSMIA while ensuring a smooth transition of operations to NMIA.