Mumbai Airport Terminal 1 Demolition Set for April 2027
MIAL, controlled by Adani Airport Holdings, shared the proposed construction schedule and artistic impressions of the replacement terminal with the Airline Operators Committee on October 28. The operator said Terminal 1, commissioned in 1964, needed replacement because of its age and structural condition, citing independent audits by Structwel in 2017 and IIT Bombay in 2024.
The new terminal is planned to handle 20 mn passengers annually, compared with 15 mn at the existing facility. Check-in counters are expected to rise by 47 per cent to 109 from 74, while security infrastructure will include 15 passenger screening lanes and five transfer lanes. The terminal will also have 25 contact stands, 12 e-gates and 11 baggage reclaim belts, compared with seven stands and five belts currently.
During construction, MIAL has proposed shifting 5 mn passengers a year, including international traffic, from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport. IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air have finalised plans to transfer international operations involving about 3 mn passengers annually. MIAL has asked other airlines to submit transition plans by November 3 for implementation during the Northern Summer 2027 schedule.
The proposed transfer has faced resistance from airlines over consultation and operational concerns. The Ministry of Civil Aviation earlier asked MIAL to defer a plan to move 265 of Terminal 2’s 770 weekly international departure slots to Navi Mumbai. The International Air Transport Association has also called for demand-capacity assessments and consultation before slot changes.
MIAL plans to expand Terminal 2’s north-west pier to accommodate domestic traffic during construction, with the additional infrastructure targeted for operation by March 2029. The operator said transfers would be phased to limit disruption, and international traffic moved to Navi Mumbai would return after Terminal 1 is completed.