Mumbai Airport to Shift One‑Third of Terminal 2 International Flights to Terminal 1, Airlines Push Back

Mumbai Airport has announced a plan to relocate roughly a third of its Terminal 2 international departures to Terminal 1. The move is justified by a credible safety case for Terminal 1 and, inadvertently, would channel more international traffic into Navi Mumbai, a hub that has long sought a larger share of global flights. Airlines, however, are voicing concerns and demanding further clarification, arguing that the shift could disrupt schedules, gate allocations and passenger flow. While the airport’s rationale appears to balance safety and regional development, the precise motivations—whether intentional design or mere coincidence—remain under scrutiny. The decision underscores the delicate trade‑offs between operational safety, infrastructure capacity and commercial interests in a rapidly expanding aviation market.