New Delhi, Oct. 7 -- The ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) on Tuesday asked Mumbai airport owner Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) to defer by a few weeks its plan to shift international flight operations from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).

Mumbai airport had planned to cut 265 weekly international flights from Terminal 2 (T2) starting October 25 to accommodate domestic traffic ahead of a phased redevelopment of Terminal 1 (T1). The airlines described the proposed relocation timelines as "unachievable", persons aware of the matter said, citing that the airport owner had gone ahead with its decision without consulting the airlines.

The airport is roughly 35km away from the Mumbai airport, which is located in ...