Airlines have asked Mumbai airport to share structural safety reports of terminal 1 (T1) ahead of October 13 meeting to firm up reduction of flights.

The meeting is being held following intervention of the Civil Aviation Ministry which put on hold reduction of 265 international flights from October 26. On October 1 Mumbai International Airport Limited ( MIAL) proposed reduction of the flights in view of planned redevelopment of T1 due to safety concerns. 

In a letter to MIAL, the Airline Operators Committee (AOC) has asked for an update on structural safety of T1. “There have been references to structural safety of T1 by MIAL at various forums. The AOC would like to review independent consultant reports that established such concerns,” it has said.

The airlines have also asked for a detailed redevelopment plan for T1, including its scope, phase wise execution plan and firm timelines. 

While airlines are supporting safe and timely development of T1, AOC has requested for details of actual capacity utilisation of terminal 1 and 2 along with declared capacity. 

“The AOC member airlines wish to place on record that the proposed 33 per cent reduction (of flights) has not be discussed with or agreed by the AOC committee or the affected AOC member airlines and is currently being proposed as an unilateral measure,” it said.

MIAL in its October 1 letter had said airlines were called for stakeholder meeting on September 16. “A number of airline partners chose not to participate in the meeting. MIAL nevertheless remains committed to continued stakeholder engagement and reiterates that the development programme and implementation timelines remain unchanged,” it said.

Mumbai airport has planned to redevelop a portion of terminal 1B from January 2027. The airport has said the terminal is 60 years old and is need of repairs. It said the partial closure of terminal 1B will impact not impact 90 per cent of city’s air traffic. Further it has said the airlines have been an option to temporarily relocate operations to Navi Mumbai.

Published on October 10, 2026