Mumbai airport operator MIAL plans to invest Rs 2,000 crore for airside projects, increase peak-hour capacity to up to 55 aircraft movements, deploy advanced technologies as well as set up a dedicated crew terminal as part of boosting overall capacity and efficiency, according to officials.
Spread over 1,900 acres, Mumbai International Airport has two cross runways -- 09/27 and 14/32.
With the cross runways, there cannot be simultaneous takeoffs or landings. With the cross runways, there cannot be simultaneous takeoffs or landings at the airport.The airport is also among the few airports worldwide that has high intensity runway operations.
The officials said the time gap between two aircraft movements at the airport is 65 seconds.
Around Rs 2,000 crore would be invested for airside projects in the coming years, they added.
Through infrastructure and operational improvements, the officials said the peak-hour capacity is expected to increase from current 46 ATMs now to around 52-55 ATMs.
ATM refers to aircraft movements.
To improve airside operations, Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), part of the Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), will be constructing eastern parallel taxiway between E5 and E7 along runway 14/32.
Also, it will be extending taxiway M, including a bridge over the Mithi river, to facilitate efficient aircraft sequencing and reduce departure delays, the officials said.
Further, western parallel taxiway sections (taxiway W/W1) for runway 14/32 would be developed to reduce runway occupancy time and aircraft backtracking.
Realignment and extension of taxiway N and development of additional taxiway links as well as rapid exit taxiways would be taken up. Also, reconfiguration and expansion of apron areas across T1, T2, cargo, and general aviation zones would be done, the officials said.
In addition, there would be enhancements in Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems (A-SMGCS), multilateration coverage and surveillance systems.
The airport operator has taken up various projects for boosting capacity and operational efficiency. Apart from airside, projects also pertain to passenger terminals, ancillary building development works, kerbside and external connectivity improvements as well as technology initiatives.
In the 2025-26 fiscal year, the airport handled 55.3 million passengers -- 38.9 million domestic and 16.4 million international travellers.
Meanwhile, MIAL will be demolishing Terminal 1 (T1) and the redevelopment works will start in January 2027. The new T1 at the airport is expected to be commissioned in 2029-30.
However, global airlines' grouping IATA has raised concerns about carriers' being asked to partially shift their international passenger and cargo operations to the Navi Mumbai airport, which is also part of AAHL.
Last month, IATA sought the civil aviation ministry's intervention to address the issue and emphasised the need to develop a transition framework that has a buy-in amongst all stakeholders.
Airlines would expect that temporary infrastructure works or transitional arrangements should not prejudice established historic slot entitlements, it had said in a letter to the ministry on September 9.
A MIAL spokesperson, on September 30, said it would be a temporary transition and that the airlines' historic slot rights will be honoured once the new T1 at the airport becomes operational.
