Aaditya Thackeray has made a strong appeal to authorities to renovate Terminal 1 (T1) of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) rather than compelling airlines and passengers to move operations to the newly operational Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). His demand comes amid concerns over convenience, cost, and connectivity.
## Airlines face strict timeline for shifting operations
Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), which manages both CSMIA and NMIA, has directed airlines to transfer 33 percent of their international flights out of CSMIA’s Terminal 2 (T2) to NMIA—or risk discontinuation of those services—by October 25.
This proposal ties directly to an upcoming redevelopment plan for T1, set to begin in January 2027. Once upgraded, the terminal is expected to boost its annual capacity from 15 million passengers per annum (mppa) to 20 mppa, marking a 33 percent increase.
## Thackeray opposes enforced relocation to NMIA
Speaking out against the shift, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray urged the Centre and the Civil Aviation Ministry to ensure that T1 is repaired, refurbished, or rebuilt—without burdening passengers or airlines with imposed relocation.
In a post on X, he questioned the enforced transfer to what he called DB Patil International Airport (NMIA), stressing that this should not be done “with or without any ground connectivity.” Thackeray warned this enforcement could be a strategy to shutter T1 for years, ultimately migrating operations permanently to Navi Mumbai.
## Complaint over infrastructure, operations, and charges
Thackeray also raised concerns over lapses in crowd management at CSMIA, as well as what he termed excessive commodification. He pointed in particular to high parking fees, describing them as astronomical, and accused management of exploiting facilities for profit at the expense of convenience.
He argued that the ongoing noise about capacity cuts and forced shifting only undermines Mumbai’s global standing and connectivity.
## Government response: Civil Aviation Ministry seeks transition plan
The Civil Aviation Ministry has advised AAHL to delay the proposed partial shift of international flights and called for discussions aimed at developing a viable transition plan.
## Why NMIA shift, and what lies ahead
NMIA began operations in December 2025. AAHL has defended the international flight transfer on grounds related to redeveloping T1.
– T1 currently handles approximately 15 mppa. Post-redevelopment, its handling capacity is projected to rise to 20 mppa.
– The October 25 deadline marks the cutoff for airlines operating international flights in T2 to either shift a third of those operations to NMIA or stop serving them.
## Impact and stakeholder concerns
Airlines have opposed the proposal, asserting that mandatory relocation to NMIA could disrupt operations and impose unnecessary hardship on travelers.
Thackeray emphasised that while Mumbai needs additional aviation infrastructure, NMIA should function as an augmentation—not a substitution—for the existing terminal. He fears that once T1 shuts for renovation, especially without efficient connectivity to NMIA, the move might never be reversed.
## Looking forward
With construction for T1’s redevelopment set for early 2027, dialogues between the ministry, airport authorities, airlines, and state representatives will determine how this transition proceeds. Balancing capacity expansion, passenger convenience, and operational feasibility remain central to avoiding long-term damage to Mumbai’s connectivity.
As debate intensifies, monitoring how these voices and decisions converge could define the future map of air travel in the Mumbai metropolitan region.
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