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India: Government pauses Mumbai airport flight-cut plan, orders talks

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai (file image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

India’s civil aviation ministry has asked Adani Airports and airlines to agree a transition plan by October 20.

It suggested delaying the shift of some international flights from Mumbai airport.

Adani had proposed cutting 265 of 770 weekly international departures.

Airlines and IATA opposed the plan.

Talks resume on October 13.

The Major Development Plan is a key requirement for taking the wider redevelopment exercise forward.

BW Businessworld reported that the government has put Adani Airports’ Terminal 1 plan on hold.

Adani Airport Holdings had asked airlines to cut 33% of international flights from Mumbai or discontinue them by October 25.

The proposal was to suspend 265 of 770 weekly international departures at Terminal 2.

The operator said the reduction is needed to free up check-in counters, baggage belts, gates and office space at Terminal 2 for domestic operations moving from Terminal 1.

Airlines opposed the proposed timeline, arguing that the changes would be hard to implement operationally and need more time for planning.

IATA has called the plan forceful relocation and said any move should be based on airlines’ choice.

Adani executives outlined the preparedness of Navi Mumbai airport to handle up to 5 million international passengers a year, according to Millennium Post.

Skift reported that the airlines got more time, but the move to Navi Mumbai is still coming.

The reports did not say whether the October 25 date for the Terminal 2 cuts has been formally withdrawn.

The Civil Aviation Ministry held a meeting on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, on the proposed cut and shift of international flights at Mumbai airport.

Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha chaired the meeting.

Airlines, Adani Airport Holdings, the Federation of Indian Airlines, IATA and the Airports Authority of India were among those present, according to Millennium Post.

IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet were among the airlines represented.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai (file image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

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