Mumbai Airport flight operations are set for a major reshuffle from October 2026, with a significant share of international flights expected to move to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The realignment is being planned ahead of the redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
According to the transition plan shared with airlines, at least one-third of international air traffic movements at Mumbai Airport could shift to Navi Mumbai International Airport from October 1, 2026. The move is expected to be followed by a redistribution of domestic operations between Mumbai Airport's Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
The changes mean passengers travelling to or from Mumbai in the coming months will need to pay close attention to their airport and terminal information before starting their journey.
Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), which operates CSMIA, has begun discussions with domestic and international airlines regarding the proposed traffic redistribution.
Under the plan, around 30 per cent of international flight movements currently handled at Mumbai Airport's Terminal 2 could be transferred to Navi Mumbai International Airport from October 1.
The proposed shift is intended to create additional capacity at CSMIA while allowing the redevelopment of Terminal 1 to proceed in phases.
Airlines have reportedly been asked to coordinate with Navi Mumbai International Airport as part of the transition process. MIAL has also said it will work with airlines, airport authorities, government departments and other stakeholders to ensure the changeover causes minimal disruption to passengers.
CSMIA's Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 together handle approximately 950 flight movements every day.
Terminal 1 has an annual passenger-handling capacity of around 15 million, while Terminal 2 can accommodate approximately 40 million passengers annually.
The planned transfer of flights to NMIA and the redistribution of operations to Terminal 2 are therefore aimed at creating sufficient capacity during the redevelopment period.
The traffic shift comes shortly after Navi Mumbai International Airport began handling international flights.
NMIA commenced international operations on July 15, 2026, with an Air India Express flight, IX-207, departing for Abu Dhabi.
The airport's integration into Mumbai's wider aviation network is expected to accelerate as more airlines move selected services from CSMIA to NMIA.
For passengers, this could mean that flights previously associated with Mumbai Airport may eventually operate from Navi Mumbai instead.
Passengers who already hold bookings for travel in October 2026 or later should not assume that their flight will continue to operate from the same airport or terminal.
If an airline moves a scheduled service from CSMIA to NMIA, or changes the terminal at Mumbai Airport, the airline or travel-booking provider is expected to notify affected passengers.
However, passengers should not wait until the day of travel to verify the airport or terminal.
Travellers should:
This is particularly important because Mumbai's CSMIA and Navi Mumbai International Airport are separate airports, and reaching the wrong airport could result in a missed flight.
Air India currently operates its domestic and international services from Terminal 2 at Mumbai Airport.
There is still limited clarity on which individual Air India international routes, if any, could move from CSMIA to NMIA as part of the October transition.
Passengers flying on routes such as Mumbai-New York, Mumbai-Newark, Mumbai-London or Mumbai-Singapore should therefore rely on the latest information provided by Air India rather than assuming that their existing airport details will remain unchanged.
The proposed traffic redistribution is being implemented in coordination with airlines, so individual flight schedules and airport assignments may vary.