Foreign airlines operating at Mumbai airport have sought Civil Aviation Ministry’s intervention for restoration of summer 2027 slots. The latest representation follows Mumbai airport’s decision to deny summer schedule slots to foreign airlines as a part of it…
Indian carriers Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa Air have already announced plans to shift flights to eleven destinations in West Asia as well as Dhaka, Jakarta and Kathmandu to Navi Mumbai from summer schedule
Foreign airlines operating at Mumbai airport have sought Civil Aviation Ministry’s intervention for restoration of summer 2027 slots. The latest representation follows Mumbai airport’s decision to deny summer schedule slots to foreign airlines as a part of its plan to shift all flights on fourteen routes to Navi Mumbai.
In its letter on Friday, the Airline Operators Committee (AOC) has said slots were declined without further consultation or discussion with the affected airlines. It has asked the Ministry if it had approved the plan to cancel the slots.
The airlines have said proposed transition out of Mumbai airport could also have wider implications for their network planning, passenger connectivity, interline and codeshare arrangements, and overall operational efficiency. “The AOC member airlines fully support Mumbai airport’s infrastructure development and the proposed Terminal 1 redevelopment.
However, any decision that may affect the historical slots and established operations of airlines should be taken in a transparent and consultative manner, in strict accordance with applicable Civil Aviation Ministry’s slot guidelines and the IATA Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines,” it said
Indian carriers Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa Air have already announced plans to shift flights to eleven destinations in West Asia as well as Dhaka, Jakarta and Kathmandu to Navi Mumbai from summer schedule. Subsequently, Mumbai airport proposed to shift all flights on the fourteen routes to Navi Mumbai in a letter to civil aviation ministry on October 30. This would ensure that all flights to fourteen destinations operate from a single airport in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the airport said.
According to airport sources the transition of flights outside Mumbai is necessary to carry out redevelopment of terminal 1. “The redevelopment is necessary to address structural concerns associated with the ageing terminal while significantly upgrading its infrastructure and passenger-handling capacity. Commissioned in 1964, T1 has a designed capacity of 15 million passengers per annum. Structural audits conducted by in 2017 and 2024 flagged concerns with the existing infrastructure. Demolition is scheduled to begin in April 2027, followed by redevelopment in phases,” an airport official said.
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