Mumbai International Airport (BOM) will begin the phased redevelopment of the North Section of Terminal 1B in January 2027. The work is expected to temporarily affect around 9% of the airport’s annual passenger traffic.
Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), operated by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), said the redevelopment is being undertaken due to safety concerns surrounding the ageing Terminal 1 infrastructure.
Mumbai Airport handles around 55 million passengers per year, of which approximately five million use the part of Terminal 1 that will be temporarily deoperationalised. The airport said 91% of its passenger traffic will remain unaffected during the first phase of the redevelopment.
The North Section of Terminal 1B, which represents around one-third of Terminal 1’s capacity, will be demolished as part of the first phase. Airlines operating from the affected facilities have been given the option of temporarily moving services to Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Redevelopment of Terminal 1 is scheduled to begin in January 2027. Once completed, the terminal’s annual capacity is expected to increase by 33%, from around 15 million passengers to 20 million passengers.
Consultations with airlines regarding the future of Terminal 1 have been taking place since 2020. The redevelopment plans were also presented to the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) and incorporated into the approved tariff framework.
Arun Bansal, CEO of AAHL said:91% of Mumbai Airport’s passenger traffic will remain unaffected even as we undertake redevelopment of the age-old infrastructure that was in urgent need of repairs. Only the North Section of Terminal 1B, which accounts for around one-third of T1 of Mumbai Airport’s capacity, is being demolished in Phase 1 to minimise passenger inconvenience and operational disruption. The transition to Navi Mumbai Airport is temporary and does not represent a permanent shift of Mumbai Airport traffic.
Extensive consultations with airlines on the future of Terminal 1 have been ongoing since 2020, and the proposed redevelopment was also presented before AERA and subsequently incorporated into the approved tariff framework. While we appreciate the concerns expressed by certain airlines, passenger safety must remain paramount, and any further delay in commencing this process could adversely impact the safety and convenience of millions of travellers.
Terminal 1 has been a long-standing safety concern, with temporary measures used over the years because there had previously been no viable alternative for airlines and passengers. The airport operator also cited a fire at Terminal 1 in April 2026 as adding to concerns about continuing operations in the existing infrastructure.
The opening of Navi Mumbai International Airport has provided an alternative for airlines affected by the redevelopment. Airlines can temporarily relocate their operations to the new airport at their discretion, with support provided during the transition.
Navi Mumbai International Airport is also offering a 100% discount on landing fees for new international flights. It plans to provide cash vouchers to international passengers to offset the difference between the User Development Fee charged at Navi Mumbai and Mumbai airports.
AAHL said the availability of Navi Mumbai Airport allows the Terminal 1 redevelopment to be carried out in phases rather than requiring the entire terminal to close. Following the redevelopment, Terminal 1 will restore all historical airline slots, alongside additional slots.
The company described Mumbai Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport as complementary facilities serving the wider Mumbai region’s aviation capacity requirements.
