Mumbai Airport Terminal 1B Redevelopment Set for January 2027 Over Safety Concerns; Capacity To Rise by 33%
Mumbai Airport will begin redeveloping Terminal 1B's North Section in January 2027 due to safety issues with the 60-year-old structure, temporarily impacting five million annual passengers. Once completed, the modernisation project will boost Terminal 1âs overall capacity by 33 per cent, expanding it from 15 million passengers per annum to 20 million.
Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) has announced that a phased redevelopment of the North Section of Terminal 1B at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport will begin in January 2027, driven by urgent safety requirements surrounding the 60-year-old structure. The modernisation initiative will temporarily de-operationalise approximately 5 million passengers a year, accounting for about 9 per cent of the airport's total annual traffic of nearly 55 million passengers.
Safety Concerns and Phased Closure
The North Section accounts for roughly one-third of Terminal 1âs total capacity. Airport operator officials noted that temporary structural mitigation measures had been utilised for years in the absence of alternative facilities, but a fire incident at Terminal 1 earlier in April further highlighted the operational risks. Mumbai Airport Smuggling: 8.5 Kg Gold Hidden as Wax Capsules, 1,168 Carats Diamonds Seized; 8 Held.
Addressing the timeline, AAHL Chief Executive Officer Arun Bansal emphasised that safety must override other operational factors. âExtensive consultations with airlines on the future of Terminal 1 have been ongoing since 2020, and the proposed redevelopment was also presented before AERA and subsequently incorporated into the approved tariff framework,â Bansal said. âWhile we appreciate the concerns expressed by certain airlines, passenger safety must remain paramount, and any further delay in commencing this process could adversely impact the safety and convenience of millions of travellers," Bansal added.
Impact on Capacity and Airline Transitions
Once completed, the modernisation project will boost Terminal 1âs overall capacity by 33 per cent, expanding it from 15 million passengers per annum to 20 million. While the remaining 91 per cent of Mumbai airport's traffic will continue to be handled normally, airlines operating out of the affected section have been given the option to temporarily shift their operations to the newly operational Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), which is managed within the same airport network. Mumbai Airport Disruption: 8 Flights Carrying 1,255 Passengers Diverted to Surat Amid Strong Winds.
To ease the migration, Navi Mumbai International Airport is offering a 100 per cent discount on landing fees for new international flights. Additionally, the operator plans to provide cash vouchers to international passengers to help offset differences in the User Development Fee (UDF) levied between the two facilities.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 03, 2026 09:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
