World · India Bureau
Mumbai diverts 5 million international passengers to Navi airport
India's busiest aviation hub will redirect all international flights from its Terminal 2 to the newly operational Navi Mumbai International Airport beginning October 1. The shift enables redevelopment work at the ageing T2 facility, scheduled to commence in January 2027.
LSN India ·
Mumbai's international air traffic will undergo a significant restructuring as Bombay High Court-backed terminal modernisation plans take shape. Starting October 1, approximately 5 million annual international passengers currently using Terminal 2 at Mumbai's Indira Gandhi International Airport equivalent will transition to Navi Mumbai International Airport, marking a watershed moment in the region's aviation infrastructure.
The relocation accommodates comprehensive redevelopment of Terminal 1, which the Airports Authority of India has slated for refurbishment beginning January 2027. Officials characterise the phased approach as essential for maintaining operational continuity while upgrading ageing facilities that have strained under India's rapidly expanding air traffic.
Navi Mumbai International Airport, developed as a greenfield project to ease congestion at the primary Mumbai gateway, has progressively assumed greater passenger volumes. The October transition represents the first major international traffic consolidation since the facility's operations commenced, potentially establishing it as the region's primary international hub.
Passengers utilising international routes from western India will experience revised terminal operations during this transition period. Ground handling agencies and airlines have been notified to facilitate seamless passenger processing at the new facility, though detailed logistical protocols remain under finalisation by airport authorities.