With the opening of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) in late May, air passengers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) will soon face a crucial choice—whether to fly from the new facility or continue using the existing Mumbai airport. However, within a decade, this decision will become less relevant as the new airport is set to become the region’s primary hub. By the early 2030s, Navi Mumbai airport is expected to take over the bulk of flight operations in the MMR, relegating Mumbai airport to a secondary role.
In the immediate term, Mumbai airport’s Terminal 1 (T1) at Santacruz (East) is set to cease operations, affecting approximately 15 million annual passengers. Of these, 10 million will be accommodated at Navi Mumbai airport’s T1, while the remaining five million will move to Terminal 2 (T2) at Sahar. As part of this transition, Mumbai T2’s passenger capacity will be increased from 40 million to 45 million. This shift is expected to ease congestion at the heavily burdened Mumbai airport, improving air traffic flow and reducing waiting times for arrivals and departures. Most general aviation services, including private jets and chartered aircraft, are also set to move to NMIA.
Globally, major metropolitan regions operate with multiple airports, with one acting as the primary hub and others supporting regional and domestic operations. London, for instance, has Heathrow as its main airport, with Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton functioning as secondaries. Similarly, in New York, John F. Kennedy Airport serves as the primary gateway, while Newark and LaGuardia cater to additional air traffic. Following this global model, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is preparing for a structured redistribution of air travel demand, where Navi Mumbai will take precedence, and Mumbai airport will eventually serve as a supporting facility.
Currently, Mumbai airport manages 55 million passengers annually, making it India’s second busiest after Delhi. As NMIA starts handling 10 million passengers in its first year and expands to 20 million by mid-2026, its trajectory will reshape the region’s aviation landscape. The first terminal at NMIA has a capacity of 20 million passengers per annum (PPA) and is expected to reach full capacity in record time. A second terminal, with a handling capacity of 30 million PPA, is scheduled to be ready by 2029. Mumbai T2 and NMIA T1 will undergo phased expansions between 2026 and 2029 to accommodate demand surges.
NMIA is designed for continuous expansion, with successive infrastructure developments over the next decade. Eventually, it will surpass Mumbai airport, featuring parallel runways and multiple terminal buildings to accommodate future passenger growth. By 2032, with the commissioning of Terminal 3 and Terminal 4, NMIA’s handling capacity will reach 90 million passengers per year, solidifying its status as the region’s dominant airport. Comparatively, Mumbai airport, constrained by spatial limitations and urban encroachment, will be unable to match this scale and will settle into the role of a secondary airport.
BVJK Sharma, CEO of Navi Mumbai International Airport, expressed confidence in NMIA’s ability to revolutionise the region’s air travel. “The Navi Mumbai airport is well supported by multimodal connectivity, and we are confident in meeting MMR’s ever-increasing demand. I am positive that the airport will contribute greatly to the region’s and country’s growth,” he stated.
Despite these developments, NMIA’s rise will not be enough to help MMR regain its former dominance in India’s aviation sector. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, already India’s busiest, is set to expand further, ensuring the National Capital Region remains the country’s leading aviation hub. With Navi Mumbai and Mumbai airports projected to handle a combined 100 million passengers per year by 2032, MMR will remain a critical aviation centre but will lag behind Delhi in total air traffic volume.
Source: The Times of India
