Adani Airport Holdings Faces Resistance as Navi Mumbai Airport Launch Nears
Navi Mumbai, 26th February 2024: As the commercial launch of Navi Mumbai Airport approaches in March 2025, Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL) is encountering challenges in persuading major airlines to relocate operations from Mumbai.
Adani Enterprises attempted to encourage the relocation of at least one major carrier to Navi Mumbai Airport a year ago, even offering prime slots. However, both Air India and IndiGo have not expressed interest in making the shift.
“Even with the new airport, the existing airport (in Mumbai) will still fulfil its purpose. The coordination between the two will need careful planning going forward,” remarked IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers to Financial Express.
AAHL mentioned ongoing discussions with several airlines on this matter, but there is currently no concrete development.
“We will provide clarity on this when there are tangible developments and agreements are finalized,” stated Adani Airport Holdings to FE.
The inaugural flight is anticipated to operate from the ₹19,600-crore Navi Mumbai Airport by the end of FY25, with an initial capacity to accommodate 20 million passengers in Phase 1.
Despite the 55 million passenger capacity annually at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), congestion is expected to persist until then, according to Financial Express.
The Navi Mumbai Airport will be road-connected to Mumbai by the time it prepares for its first flight the following year. However, the 40-kilometer metro line linking Mumbai’s airport to Navi Mumbai’s airport, crucial for rail connectivity, is yet to commence construction, as reported by FE.
Sources reveal pending clearances from various government agencies, despite ongoing construction work on Navi Mumbai Airport since August 2021. The Adani group remains optimistic about receiving prompt approval from relevant authorities.
