Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport operates 2 terminals. The buildings are separated by about 3 km.

Both buildings are modern and meet all international standards.

Best hotels near Mumbai Airport

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 serves domestic flights of smaller airlines. The building is known locally as Santacruz Airport and is the original airport terminal completely renovated in 2001.

Terminal 1 is used by the following airlines.

• Akasa Air
• Indigo (selected flights only)
• SpiceJet

Terminal 2

Mumbai Airport's largest building was built brand new in 2014.

Terminal 2 serves the domestic flights of these airlines:

• Air India
• Air India Express
• IndiGo (selected flights)

In addition, Terminal 2 handles all international flights.

Transfer between terminals

A free airport shuttle bus runs between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 via the outdoor public area. However, you must present your boarding pass or ticket for the flight from the respective terminal before boarding.

The "Inter-Terminal Shuttle" bus service operates 24/7 and runs at a frequency of approximately 10-20 minutes.

The journey between terminals takes 20-35 minutes depending on traffic.

• Terminal 1 - stop in front of the arrivals hall, exit 2
• Terminal 2 - stop at the arrivals hall, level -1, exit P4

There are no buses running on the tarmac through the transit zone (airside).

It is therefore always necessary to leave the transit area when moving between terminals.

Security checks

In Mumbai, you will be subjected to the first check when you enter all terminals from the outside. Have your passport and especially your ticket or boarding pass ready, either in mobile or paper form.

The usual waiting time to enter the terminals is up to 20 minutes.

The next check is the classic security screening between the public and transit areas that you know from all airports in the world.

Queues for security checks in all terminals can take up to 45 minutes.

How far in advance should I arrive at the airport?

Even with double checkpoints (and extra passport control for international flights), it is recommended to arrive at Mumbai Airport 3 hours before departure.

However, it is not a good idea to arrive at the airport with more time in advance.

This is because you will only get through passport and conventional security when the check-in counter of your flight opens, regardless of whether you have a mobile boarding pass and did not need to visit the counter at all.

Check-in counters for international flights usually open 4 hours before departure and for domestic flights about 2-3 hours before departure.

Transfer between flights

Mumbai Airport is the 2nd largest transfer point for international and domestic flights in the whole of South Asia. Transfer at Mumbai Airport is clearly marked with signs "Transfer".

International transfer

International flight transfers (i.e. arriving in Mumbai from abroad and departing to another international destination, e.g. Dubai -> Mumbai -> Bangkok) will only ever take place within Terminal 2.

When connecting internationally, you never have to move between terminals.

If you have purchased a ticket with a transfer in Mumbai, your transfer is guaranteed and you do not have to go through immigration or leave the transit zone at all.

• Average transfer time - 30 to 45 minutes
• Security check - yes
• Immigration check - no
• Baggage - will be automatically transferred and you don't have to worry about it
• Visa - you do not need an Indian visa for the transfer, no passport control is required

Domestic transfer

Transferring between domestic routes can already be tricky, especially if you are travelling with IndiGo airlines operating from terminals 1 and 2.

Other airlines (such as Air India, Vistara, Spicejet) operate all their international and domestic flights from one terminal.

No change of terminal

You will not need to leave the transit area if you are only connecting within a single terminal.

However, you will always go through security checks.

• Average transfer time - 30 to 45 minutes
• Security check - yes
• Baggage - will be automatically transferred and you don't have to worry about it

Change terminal

However, if you are changing terminals, you must always leave the transit area and go completely outside the airport building.

A free airport bus runs between all terminals. Once outside, follow the signs "Inter-terminal Shuttle Bus".

The bus runs at intervals of 20-30 minutes for 24 hours a day.

• Average transfer time - 75 to 120 minutes
• Security check - yes
• Baggage - you must collect and re-check in

Transfer from international to domestic flight

If you are travelling with one booking from an international destination and proceeding from Mumbai to another Indian destination, you must always go through immigration control at Mumbai.

After passing through immigration and customs, turn left into the corridor where there are special transfer counters for domestic flights, where you check in your baggage and go through security.

If you need to change terminals, the process is the same as for a purely domestic transfer, see above.

• Average transfer time
  • 60 to 90 minutes without changing terminal
  • 100 to 150 minutes when transferring between terminals
• Security check - yes
• Immigration check - going through Mumbai airport
• Baggage - you must always collect your baggage and re-check-in at a dedicated check-in counter marked "Transfer"

Transfer from a domestic to an international flight

If you are travelling with one booking from an Indian destination via Mumbai to an international destination, you must always exit the transit zone.

If you have to change terminal, the process is the same as for a purely domestic transfer see above.

• Average transfer time
  • 60 to 90 minutes without changing terminal
  • 100 to 150 minutes when transferring between terminals
• Security check - yes
• Immigration check - going through Mumbai airport
• Baggage - you must always collect your baggage and re-check in at a dedicated check-in counter marked "Transfer"