Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL)-operated Mumbai International Airport will begin redevelopment of the North Section of Terminal 1B from January 2027, with safety concerns surrounding the ageing infrastructure prompting a phased approach. The redevelopment is expected to temporarily affect around 5 million passengers a year, representing approximately 9% of Mumbai airport's total annual traffic of about 55 million passengers. The phased plan is intended to address safety concerns while limiting disruption to travellers and airline operations.

Only the North Section of Terminal 1B, which accounts for around one-third of Terminal 1's capacity, will be demolished during the first phase. AAHL said around 91% of Mumbai airport's passenger traffic will remain unaffected during the redevelopment. Airlines will also have the option of temporarily relocating their operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport, with AAHL providing assistance during the transition. The company said the move to Navi Mumbai would be temporary and would not represent a permanent transfer of Mumbai airport traffic.

The redevelopment follows years of concerns regarding Terminal 1's ageing infrastructure, with temporary measures being used to address safety requirements. The risks associated with continued operations became more prominent following a fire incident at the terminal in April this year. With Navi Mumbai International Airport now operational and able to provide an alternative for airlines and passengers, AAHL said the redevelopment of Terminal 1 can proceed in phases rather than requiring a complete shutdown.

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The redevelopment is expected to increase Terminal 1's capacity by 33%, taking it from the current 15 million passengers per annum to 20 million passengers per annum. AAHL CEO Arun Bansal said consultations with airlines regarding the future of Terminal 1 had been ongoing since 2020 and that the redevelopment proposal had also been presented before the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority and incorporated into the approved tariff framework. He said passenger safety remained the priority and further delays could affect the safety and convenience of travellers.

Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to play a key role in managing the temporary shift in passenger traffic. The airport is offering a 100% discount on landing fees for new international flights and plans to provide cash vouchers to international passengers to offset differences in User Development Fees between the two airports. AAHL said Navi Mumbai airport has the infrastructure and capacity required to handle additional traffic during the redevelopment period.

The two airports are expected to operate as complementary facilities serving the Mumbai metropolitan region, which faces significant constraints on aviation infrastructure. By carrying out the Terminal 1 redevelopment in phases, AAHL aims to improve the ageing terminal while keeping most Mumbai airport operations running. The first phase, beginning in January 2027, will focus on the North Section of Terminal 1B, with the remaining redevelopment planned around the need to minimise disruption to passengers and airlines.

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