Gulf Air and Saudia have challenged Mumbai airport’s proposed Summer 2027 slot changes as a Terminal 1 rebuild is expected to sideline capacity for about five million passengers a year, Hindustan Times reported.
Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), operated by Adani Airport Holdings Limited, said the project would temporarily make capacity for about five million passengers annually unavailable. The airport handles around 55 million passengers a year, according to MIAL. It has offered airlines the option to move services temporarily to Navi Mumbai International Airport.
MIAL’s plan sets a capacity target of 20 million passengers a year for the reconstructed Terminal 1, compared with 15 million now. The company said the 60-year-old facility faces safety concerns, which a fire in April 2026 heightened.
After meeting with Mumbai airport’s Airline Operators’ Committee, MIAL said historical slots would be protected for the winter schedule. Its statement described a joint working group to plan the redevelopment. Separately, MIAL said airlines had committed to supporting the project and traffic balancing from the summer schedule.
Hindustan Times reported Nov. 12 that Gulf Air and Saudia questioned the process for changing their slots. The outlet quoted Gulf Air’s email saying, “MIAL cannot unilaterally reduce airport capacity.” It also reported that Saudia raised concerns about possible effects on Hajj and Umrah operations.
The Indian Express reported Nov. 6 that MIAL’s slot coordinator told affected carriers their requested Summer 2027 slots could not be accommodated because of capacity constraints. The report said historical slots would be restored after Terminal 2 expands. Business Standard reported that the Airline Operators’ Committee asked India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) whether it had approved MIAL’s plan and sought restoration of the slots. The committee also warned that shifting services could affect airline networks, passenger connections and operating efficiency, Business Standard reported.
The dispute follows EconoTimes’ earlier coverage of planned IndiGo flight transfers to Navi Mumbai amid the slot dispute.
The Haj Committee of India lists tentative outbound charter flights from Apr. 8 to May 9, 2027, and return flights from May 21 to June 20, 2027. MIAL says work on the north section of Terminal 1B is scheduled to begin in January 2027.
