Mumbai's airport operator says it cannot accommodate some Gulf carriers' Summer 2027 slots: move to Navi Mumbai from late March 2027 or suspend until Terminal 1 reopens.
Cover image: The arrivals hall at Navi Mumbai International Airport (May 2026 file photo) — photo by Suraj Digrase, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Mumbai airport has told some Gulf airlines it cannot fit their Summer 2027 flights in. They can move to Navi Mumbai International Airport when the season starts in late March 2027, or suspend the routes until a rebuilt Terminal 1 opens. The email from the slot coordination team at Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) went to "select Gulf carriers" on Thursday 5 November, Business Standard reported, citing sources.
MIAL's plan covers 14 destinations, 11 of them in Gulf states. Sixteen airlines fly 205 weekly flights from Mumbai on those routes, Business Standard said, citing Cirium's November 2026 schedule. IndiGo, the Air India group and Akasa Air have announced plans to move some services. The other 12, with 102 weekly departures, have not; which of them got the email is not known.
What has changed since Mumbai deferred the Navi Mumbai shift?
When we reported on 16 October that Mumbai had deferred its Navi Mumbai shift to March 2027, the plan was a one-third cut: 265 of Terminal 2's 770 weekly international departures across 46 airlines, with a promise to leave winter slots alone.
So far the winter promise has held. The method has not.
MIAL now wants whole routes moved, so no destination is split between two airports. Its 30 October letter to the Ministry of Civil Aviation said it could shift every flight to the 14 destinations if airlines did not volunteer transfers by 3 November, Business Standard reported. On 5 November the slot team wrote that Mumbai "is unable to accommodate requested Summer 2027 slots of your esteemed airline", requiring "a temporary transition out of Mumbai effective beginning of Northern Summer 2027 and subsequent seasons."
MIAL says existing timings will be restored once the terminal works finish.
Which airlines fly the Mumbai routes on the list?
Business Standard lists the 12 without announced plans as Air Arabia, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, Saudia, Qatar Airways, Riyadh Air, Jazeera Airways, SalamAir, flyadeal, flynas and Nepal Airlines. GoodReturns' sources said MIAL had finalised Summer 2027 slots for 38 of 50 overseas airlines, leaving 12 without slots for some services.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are not on the list, and Emirates, Etihad and flydubai are not named.
By our count from the plans Gulf News reported on 25 October, IndiGo or Air India Express has announced Navi Mumbai services to all 14 destinations; Akasa's Jeddah move is from News Live.
| Destination | Indian airlines with Navi Mumbai plans |
|---|---|
| Bahrain | IndiGo |
| Dammam | IndiGo, Air India Express |
| Dhaka | IndiGo |
| Doha | Air India Express |
| Fujairah | IndiGo |
| Jakarta | IndiGo |
| Jeddah | IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air |
| Kathmandu | IndiGo (planned daily service) |
| Kuwait City | IndiGo, Air India Express (subject to approvals) |
| Madinah | IndiGo |
| Muscat | IndiGo, Air India Express |
| Ras Al Khaimah | IndiGo |
| Riyadh | IndiGo, Air India Express |
| Sharjah | Air India Express |
Why is Mumbai airport cutting Summer 2027 slots?
Rebuilding Terminal 1 cuts Mumbai's capacity of around 55 million passengers a year by 5 million from Summer 2027, leaving about 91 per cent unaffected, MIAL says (Business Standard). MIAL's letter puts the Indian carriers' moves at roughly 3 million, News Live reported, which by our arithmetic leaves about 2 million to come from others.
Business Standard's 5 November report says the new Terminal 1 will be ready in 2029; its 19 October report, Gulf News and News Live give 2030.
What does the Navi Mumbai shift mean for airlines and agents?
The airports are about 50km apart (Gulf News), so any connection between them means a road transfer. A tariff approved in September waives landing fees on new international routes at Navi Mumbai in year one and halves them in year two, News Live reported.
Airlines dispute the process. Airline Operators Committee (AOC) sources told GoodReturns: "This is a totally unilateral decision and MIAL is not adhering to both MOCA and IATA SLOTS guidelines." MIAL's letter says foreign carriers recommended moving whole routes and denies the shift is abrupt or unilateral, News Live reported. Historic precedence takes first priority under the industry's slot guidelines, as our airport slots explainer sets out.
On IATA's calendar, 5 November was the deadline for initial Summer 2027 allocations; the IATA Slot Conference follows on 17 to 19 November. We found no public statement on the email from MIAL, Adani Airport Holdings or the ministry as of 6 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mumbai international routes are moving to Navi Mumbai in summer 2027?
Flights to 14 destinations: Bahrain, Dammam, Dhaka, Doha, Fujairah, Jakarta, Jeddah, Kathmandu, Kuwait City, Madinah, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh and Sharjah, as listed in MIAL's 30 October letter (Business Standard). It is planned from the start of the Northern Summer season on 28 March 2027.
Which foreign airlines received MIAL's 5 November email?
That has not been disclosed. Business Standard's sources said select Gulf carriers received it, but the paper said it is not known which of the 12 foreign airlines on the 14 routes were among them. No airline had publicly confirmed receiving it as of 6 November 2026.
When will Mumbai airport's Terminal 1 reopen?
Sources differ. Business Standard's 5 November report says 2029; its 19 October report, Gulf News and News Live's account of MIAL's letter say 2030. Gulf News says capacity rises from 15 million to 20 million passengers a year; demolition starts in phases from April 2027, News Live reported.
Will passengers pay more to fly from Navi Mumbai?
Navi Mumbai's User Development Fee is higher, Gulf News reported, and Adani Airports says it plans to give international passengers cash vouchers to offset the difference. Gulf News also notes that a proposed slot reduction does not automatically mean a flight is cancelled.
Sources
- Business Standard, MIAL orders select Gulf carriers to shift to Navi Mumbai
- Business Standard, MIAL reiterates summer 2027 flight shift plan
- GoodReturns, Mumbai airport slots for Summer 2027 finalised
- News Live, Destination-based shift to Navi Mumbai airport
- Gulf News, IndiGo and Air India Express to shift flights
- IATA, Calendar of coordination activities
