Everything You Need to Know About Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

IE Author — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 18:30:10 +0000

Mumbai Airport or as it is named “Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport” is an important international gateway to India. It is the second busiest airport in India after Delhi Airport. Mumbai Airport was formerly called Sahar International Airport due to its location in the suburbs of Sahar village and Santacruz in Andheri. It was later renamed in honor of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The airport is located 28 kilometers north of Central Mumbai and 8 kilometers north of Mumbai downtown.

Quick Information about Mumbai Airport

Name: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
IATA Code: BOM
Year of Establishment: 1942
Address: Sahar, Andheri East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400029
Terminals: 2
Runways: 2
Passenger traffic in 2021-22: 21 million

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Terminals

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, Maharashtra has two main terminals – Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 which are further subdivided into levels.

Terminal 1 (Domestic)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport Terminal 1 is located at Santacruz. It originally had three sub-terminals 1A, 1B, and 1C.

Terminal 1A: The oldest terminal, 1 A was shut down in 2016.
Terminal 1B: It is used for domestic flights (arrivals and departures) such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, and GoAir.
Terminal 1C: It had 6 boarding bridges and acted as a connecting terminal between 1A and 1B. It served as a boarding-only facility for all airlines. Level 1 has the airport operator, Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL).

Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), the operator of the airport, renamed Terminal 1B to Terminal 1 in 2017, after the closure of terminal 1A.

Terminal 2 (International)

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Terminal 2, located at Sahar, serves all international arrivals and departures. Additionally, some Mumbai Airport departures by domestic airlines like Air India, Vistara, and Jet Airways take place at this terminal. Book last-minute flights from Mumbai with any of these airlines and you will make an entry at Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport.

Terminal 2 operates at four different levels:

Level 1 dedicated to Transport
Level 2 dedicated to Arrivals
Level 3 dedicated to Domestic Departures
Level 4 dedicated to International Departures

Transportation Facilities at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

Inter-Terminal Transfer

Both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 share the same airside but are located at a distance of 5 kilometers. Free coach service is offered to passengers for transfer from one terminal to another

Connectivity to the city

Buses: Passengers can get local buses from Terminal 1 (Domestic) and Terminal 2 (International) for nearby railway stations Andheri and Vile Parle.

Train: It is the fastest and most popular way of communication in Mumbai. There are three railway lines operating throughout the city – Western, Harbor Lines, and Central. The nearest railway station for passengers at Mumbai Airport Arrivals (Domestic Terminal 1) is Vile Parle in Santacruz while the International Terminal 2 is Andheri in Sahar. One can reach the convenient stations through a taxi or bus.

Taxi: If you are looking for an easy direct transfer to the city of Mumbai, taking a prepaid taxi is a better option instead of the metered taxis as the drivers might trick you with meter readings by taking the longer route to the destination. A reasonable cost for a pre-paid taxi should be around 500-700 INR. Do not pay more than that. It will take you to the main hub Colaba.

Auto Rickshaw: Passengers can get auto rickshaws from Terminal 1 but they only have the authorization to run up to specific areas – Central suburbs beyond Sion and western suburbs past Bandra.

Also Read: Unique Things to do in Mumbai

Passenger Services at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

Money and Communications: Several ATMs are installed throughout the Mumbai Airport in both domestic and international Terminals. Passengers can find currency exchange counters at various locations such as Centrum in Terminal 1 arrivals and Terminal 2 Arrivals and departures, Akbar Travels in Domestic Transfers level 2, Level 4 passenger holding area and check-in, SBI and VKC in Level 2 Arrivals.

Luggage: There are left luggage and lost & found services at both terminals. Passengers also get the benefit of luggage wrapping services by TravelProtect at Terminal 2 – close to check-in counters F-gate 4, N-gate 6, B-gate 2, and J-gate 5. For a more exact idea, refer to the Mumbai Airport map.

Medical Facilities: Passengers traveling with patients or in need of immediate medical assistance are offered emergency medical care facilities in the medical rooms at Mumbai International Airport. Medical inspection centers are available at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Conference and business: Both terminals have a business center and executive lounges in the Mumbai Airport Departures area. Passengers can also receive conference facilities at Leela Kempinski Hotel located close to the airport.

Airport Lounges: Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is home to three lounges – GVK Lounge (for first and business class passengers), Loyalty Lounge, and Pranaam Lounge. Passengers can relax at these lounges and enjoy unlimited access to food and beverages.

Childcare facilities: There are childcare rooms available for travelers with kids at both domestic and international Terminals. Have a better idea about the location by viewing a Mumbai Airport video online. You can also seek assistance from the staff at the information desk.

Parking: Mumbai Airport has designated parking spaces at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The parking facility at Terminal 1 can accommodate up to 750 cars and the one at T2 provides enough space for 1500 cars. The fare for parking is different for general and premium categories. General parking fare starts at INR 160 whereas premium parking prices begin at INR 250.

Shopping: There are 3 duty-free stores for the passengers to shop at the airport. Moreover, Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport has a broad range of retail stores like Samsonite, Natraj Jewelers, J.K Fashions, Esbeda, Media Mart, Crystal Mirage, Da Milano, Landmark, Swarovski, Lilliput, Lotus Retail, William Penn, Croma, Pavers England, Gili, Hidesign, Ethos and Little India.

Also Read: Mumbai Travel Guide

Food and Drinks: You will find a wide array of food outlets (restaurants and fast-food centers) selling both eastern and western palettes. The popular outlets to try include Mumbai Se, Veg O’Vegee, Baskin-Robbins, Hot Dog, Grab n Go, Mad over Donuts, Dominos, Curry Kitchen, KFC, Pizza Hut, Burritos, and coffee bistros all around the Mumbai International Airport.

Wi-Fi: You can get access to free Wi-Fi throughout the airport.

Other Services: In addition to these facilities, passengers get the benefit of other services like a spa, smoking zone, post office, mobile charging, prayer room, showers, and pharmacy.

Also Read: Street food in Mumbai

–Travel Diary