Mumbai Airport to Demolish Terminal 1 in April 2027, New Terminal by 2030

Mumbai International Airport (MIAL), under Adani Airport Holdings, has announced plans to commence the demolition of Terminal 1 (T1) in April 2027. The redevelopment project aims to replace the aging terminal with a new facility expected to be completed by December 2030. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to increase the airport's annual passenger capacity from approximately 55 million to 65 million.

The new T1 is designed to accommodate 20 million passengers each year, significantly enhancing its current capacity of 15 million. MIAL has outlined plans to improve check-in, security screening, boarding, and baggage-handling processes. These details were shared with the Airline Operators Committee during a meeting on October 28, where MIAL also presented artistic impressions of the upcoming terminal.

The necessity for redevelopment stems from the terminal's age and structural integrity, as highlighted by audits conducted by Structwel in 2017 and IIT Bombay in 2024. Originally commissioned in 1964, T1 has reached a point where replacement is essential. To facilitate this transition, MIAL plans to redistribute passenger traffic between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), proposing to shift five million passengers annually, including international traffic.

Airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air have already finalized plans to relocate their international operations, which account for about three million passengers per year, to NMIA. MIAL has requested that other airlines submit their transition strategies by November 3, aiming for a smooth shift of five million passengers during the Northern Summer 2027 schedule. However, this plan has sparked controversy, with airlines expressing concerns over the lack of consultation and potential operational impacts.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has intervened, urging MIAL to collaborate with airlines to develop a mutually agreeable transition roadmap. The proposed redevelopment of T1 is expected to significantly enhance passenger processing capabilities, with an increase in check-in counters and security lanes. MIAL has assured that international traffic temporarily moved to NMIA will be restored to CSMIA once the new T1 is operational, ultimately raising Mumbai airport's overall capacity to around 65 million passengers annually.