MUMBAI, Oct. 6, 2026 — Update to our October 5 story. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has asked Mumbai’s airport operator to defer its plan to pull 265 weekly international departures out of Terminal 2 on October 25. The cut is on hold until the operator and the airlines agree on a plan together.
What changed since yesterday
Yesterday we reported that airlines had until 4:00 p.m. on October 6 to name the flights they would give up or move to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI). That deadline has been overtaken.
- The meeting: the ministry met Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), the Navi Mumbai airport operator and the airlines in Delhi on Tuesday, Business Standard reports, citing sources.
- The instruction: MIAL was asked to defer its transition plan and hold stakeholder meetings to produce a jointly agreed plan. That plan then needs the ministry’s approval.
- October 25 date: deferred. New date: TBA.
- Airlines’ position: the Airline Operators Committee asked for capacity data for both terminals, the Terminal 1 rebuilding timeline and the basis for the one-third figure. It said “Airlines cannot concur with any unilateral reduction” of their slots.
- MIAL’s position: Business Today quotes chief executive Arun Bansal saying the work will be phased to limit disruption and that any move to Navi Mumbai would be temporary.
What has not changed
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Original proposal | 265 of 770 weekly international departures from Terminal 2, across 46 airlines |
| Terminal 1 redevelopment | Still due to start in January 2027 |
| Passengers affected by the Terminal 1 work | About 5 million a year, roughly 9% of the airport’s 55 million |
| Distance between BOM and NMI | About 50 km |
| Passenger fee per departure | ₹1,225 at Navi Mumbai against ₹615 at Mumbai, Outlook Business reports |
| Incentives to move | Full landing-fee discount for new international flights at NMI, plus passenger vouchers |
Terminal 1 still has to be emptied in stages from January, and its domestic flights still need room in Terminal 2. The dispute over how to make that room is postponed, not settled.
What it means for non-revs
- International flights from BOM Terminal 2 stay as scheduled for now. There is no forced cut on October 25, so the sudden drop in seats we flagged yesterday is off the table for the moment.
- Keep checking the airport code on anything after late October. A negotiated plan could still move flights to NMI later in the winter season. The two airports are about 50 km apart, so a listing on the wrong one is a missed flight.
- Do not plan a connection between BOM and NMI. There is no practical same-day transfer for a standby traveller at that distance.
- Watch January 2027. When Terminal 1 work starts, domestic flights shift and Terminal 2 gets busier. Allow more time for check-in and security from then.
- If your carrier does move flights voluntarily, expect lighter loads at NMI at first and heavier loads on what remains at BOM.
Sources
- Business Standard — “MoCA asks MIAL to defer Mumbai flight shift plan, consult airlines” (October 6, 2026) — business-standard.com
- Business Today — “Mumbai airport defers plan to shift 33% international operations from T2 amid capacity concerns” (October 6, 2026) — businesstoday.in
- Outlook Business — “Mumbai Airport’s 265-Slot Plan Triggers An Airline Standoff” (October 5, 2026) — outlookbusiness.com
- inkl — “Civil Aviation Ministry, airlines to discuss Mumbai airport issues on October 6” — inkl.com
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