Mumbai Airport Flights to Navi Mumbai Shift have been put on hold for now after the Civil Aviation Ministry asked the airport operator to defer its plan to move a large number of international services.
The decision follows concerns raised by airlines about the proposed transition.
Under the earlier plan, 265 of Mumbai airport’s 770 weekly international departure slots were to be temporarily discontinued or shifted to Navi Mumbai International Airport from October 25.
The move was linked to the redevelopment of Mumbai airport’s Terminal 1.
Mumbai Airport Flights to Navi Mumbai Shift Deferred
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has asked Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), which operates Mumbai airport, to defer the current transition plan and work with airlines on a jointly agreed approach.
The government’s intervention came after airlines objected to the proposed reduction in international operations at Mumbai airport.
The ministry has sought consultations among the airport operator, airlines and other stakeholders before the transition is taken forward.
The earlier proposal involved reducing 265 weekly international departures from Mumbai’s Terminal 2, which currently handles international operations.
The space created at T2 was intended to accommodate domestic flights that would be affected by the redevelopment of Terminal 1.
Why International Flights Were Being Shifted
The proposed changes are connected to the redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Mumbai airport.
The airport operator had planned to begin redevelopment work and needed additional capacity at Terminal 2 to manage domestic traffic during the construction period.
MIAL had asked airlines to identify international flights that could be temporarily discontinued or shifted to Navi Mumbai.
The plan covered 265 of the airport’s 770 weekly international departures.
Navi Mumbai International Airport was expected to handle some of these services during the transition.
However, airlines raised concerns about the operational and commercial implications of moving international services between the two airports.
Airlines Raise Concerns Over Flight Shift
Airlines had objected to the proposed reduction, with concerns surrounding the timing of the change and its effect on already planned winter schedules.
The proposed transition also raised questions about how the affected services would be redistributed between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
The government has now asked the airport operator to consult airlines and prepare a transition plan acceptable to the stakeholders.
A further meeting between the operator and airlines is scheduled for October 13, according to reports.
The deferment means the earlier October 25 transition plan will not proceed in its current form.
However, the redevelopment of Mumbai airport’s Terminal 1 remains the reason for the need to reorganise airport capacity.
What This Means for Passengers
For passengers, the immediate development means there is no current implementation of the earlier plan to shift the affected international services as scheduled.
Travellers should nevertheless continue checking their airline booking details for any future changes.
If flights are eventually moved between the two airports, passengers could have to adjust their travel arrangements because Mumbai airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport are separate facilities.
Any changes to individual flights will depend on the revised transition plan and subsequent decisions.
The latest Mumbai Airport Flights to Navi Mumbai Shift decision gives the airport operator and airlines additional time to work out how international and domestic operations can be managed while Terminal 1 is redeveloped.
