265 International Flights To Be Cut
Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is set to reduce 265 weekly international flights from October 25 as part of preparations for the redevelopment of Terminal 1.
The airport operator has asked 46 airlines to temporarily discontinue a total of 265 international services every week from the start of the winter schedule. This represents roughly one-third of the 770 weekly international flights currently operating from Terminal 2.
Why Are International Flights Being Reduced?
The reduction is linked to the planned redevelopment of Terminal 1, which currently handles domestic operations.
With T1 set to undergo major redevelopment, around 5 million domestic passengers a year will need to be accommodated at Terminal 2. Since T2 currently handles international operations, some of its international capacity will be freed up for domestic flights.
The redevelopment of T1 is scheduled to begin in January 2027.
IndiGo And Air India Face Major Cuts
IndiGo will see the largest reduction among airlines operating international services from Mumbai.
The airline currently operates 224 weekly international flights from Mumbai and has been asked to reduce this by 74 flights per week.
Air India, which currently operates 100 weekly international flights from Mumbai, will have to cut 33 services.
Other Indian carriers will also be affected. Akasa Air has been asked to reduce 11 weekly international flights, while Air India Express and SpiceJet will cut seven and five respectively.
Foreign Airlines Also Affected
International carriers will also have to reduce their Mumbai operations.
Etihad Airways and Emirates are each expected to cut 10 weekly international flights. Both airlines currently operate 28 international services per week from Mumbai.
The reductions will apply from October 25, when the winter flight schedule begins.
Navi Mumbai Airport Could Play A Bigger Role
The changes are also connected to the wider transition towards Navi Mumbai International Airport.
The new airport, which is also controlled by the Adani airport group, is expected to play an increasingly important role in handling Mumbai’s growing air traffic.
However, several airlines have raised concerns about the transition process and the proposal to shift operations.
The International Air Transport Association has also called for greater consultation with airlines and a transition framework that considers commercial viability, operational requirements and existing slot arrangements.
Passengers Could See Changes To Flight Options
The reduction does not necessarily mean that all affected routes will disappear permanently.
The cuts are being described as temporary while Mumbai airport manages the transition associated with the redevelopment of T1. Airlines will need to adjust schedules and capacity based on the available airport infrastructure.
For passengers, however, the immediate impact could include fewer direct international flight options from Mumbai on certain routes, particularly during the transition period.
Mumbai Airport Faces A Major Transformation
The redevelopment of T1 represents a significant change for Mumbai’s airport infrastructure.
The airport operator needs to accommodate millions of domestic passengers at T2 while continuing to maintain international operations. Reducing international capacity is therefore being used to create additional space for domestic airlines.
The coming months are expected to bring further changes as airlines finalise their schedules and the transition towards the redeveloped airport system progresses.
Summary
Mumbai airport will temporarily cut 265 weekly international flights from October 25 as it prepares for the redevelopment of Terminal 1. The reduction represents around 33% of current international departures from T2. IndiGo will cut 74 weekly services and Air India 33, while several other Indian and international airlines will also reduce flights as T2 capacity is freed up for domestic operations.
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