Adani Airports to revamp Mumbai T1 North section from Jan; 9% traffic to shift

Adani Airports will begin a phased redevelopment of the ageing Terminal 1 at Mumbai airport starting in January 2027, beginning with the North Section of Terminal 1B due to safety concerns regarding the nearly 60-year-old facility.

According to Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), the first phase will temporarily affect approximately 5 million passengers annually, representing about 9 per cent of Mumbai airport’s overall annual traffic of 55 million. The remaining 91 per cent of passenger operations will continue without disruption.

To manage the transition, airlines currently operating out of the affected section will be given the option to temporarily move operations to the newly operational Navi Mumbai International Airport, with AAHL offering support throughout the process.


Also read: Airlines need to cut 265 weekly international flights connecting Mumbai airport from Oct 25: Sources

"91 per cent 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," said Arun Bansal, CEO, Adani Airport Holdings Limited.

Terminal 1 currently handles around 15 million passengers per year. Upon completion, the redevelopment project will expand its total capacity by 33 per cent to 20 million passengers annually.

By singling out the North Section for demolition in the initial stage, AAHL aims to keep the rest of Terminal 1 operational, avoiding a full shutdown and reducing overall disruption for carriers and travelers alike.

Also read: Airbus delivered around 72 aircraft in September, sources say

"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," Bansal said.

Safety concerns surrounding Terminal 1 have lingered for years, previously relies on temporary fixes due to a lack of alternative options. A fire at Terminal 1 in April earlier this year underscored the potential hazards of maintaining ongoing operations in the old structure.

The launch of the Navi Mumbai International Airport has now created a viable alternative to absorb traffic, making a phased reconstruction feasible.

"Navi Mumbai International Airport is a modern, fully equipped airport and has the infrastructure and capacity to handle the additional passenger traffic that would be transitioned from Mumbai Airport. Its availability makes it possible to undertake the redevelopment of T1 of Mumbai Airport in phases, instead of shutting down the entire terminal and causing greater disruption to passengers and airlines," Bansal said.

To encourage airlines to establish operations, Navi Mumbai International Airport is offering a 100 per cent discount on landing fees for new international flights. Additionally, it plans to provide international passengers with cash vouchers to bridge the gap in user development fees between the Navi Mumbai and Mumbai facilities.

Adani Airports noted that Mumbai Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport will function as complementary hubs serving the broader Mumbai Metropolitan Region, where rapid growth in air travel has strained existing capacity.

The company added that once completed, the redeveloped Terminal 1 will restore all historical flight slots and unlock additional capacity for airlines.

The two-airport framework is set to play a pivotal role in managing the region's expanding aviation needs. Mumbai airport, operated by MIAL, remains among India’s busiest hubs, while the newly added Navi Mumbai facility provides crucial capacity expansion on the city's eastern front.

AAHL, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd, manages eight airports across India and oversees more than 23 per cent of the nation’s total air passenger traffic.