Foreign airlines operating at Mumbai airport have asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to intervene in the proposed changes to summer 2027 flight slots. The move comes after Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) announced plans to transfer 265 weekly international departure slots from Terminal 2 to Navi Mumbai.

The proposed shift would reduce Mumbai airport's annual passenger capacity by 5 million, according to reports. Airlines including Emirates and Air France-KLM have requested that the ministry ensure no historical slots are denied, reduced, cancelled or reallocated unilaterally.

They have also asked the ministry to direct MIAL and the slot coordinator to approve historical slots for summer 2027.

In an email to the civil aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha on November 2, the AOC highlighted MIAL’s unilateral decision to reduce capacity without adequate justification or consultation. The AOC has requested that no historical slots be denied, reduced, cancelled or reallocated unilaterally before the Slot Allocation List deadline of November 5.

Airlines have raised concerns about the lack of adequate justification for the proposed 5 million passenger per annum (MPPA) reduction. They argue that Terminal 1's actual operational capacity is below 10 MPPA, not 15 MPPA as published.

The Airline Operators Committee (AOC) has asked the ministry to ensure MIAL follows MoCA and IATA slot allocation guidelines.

Indian carriers have already moved 133 weekly international departures to Navi Mumbai, while the remaining 132 weekly international departures are operated by foreign airlines. MIAL plans to close Terminal 1 for redevelopment from April 2027 and shift 265 of the 770 weekly international departure slots at Terminal 2 to Navi Mumbai, cutting annual capacity by 5 million passengers.

The Airline Operators Committee represents 46 of the 47 airlines operating at Mumbai airport, including IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa Air that have already announced moves to Navi Mumbai. MIAL has informed airlines that their historical slots would be fully restored once Terminal 2 expansion is completed.