Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

From Military Airfield to Civil Aviation Hub (1942)

The origins of Mumbai’s aviation journey date back to 1942, when the Royal Air Force Santacruz airfield began operations. After India attained independence, the airfield was transferred to the Government of India for civilian use and became known as Santacruz Airport. The original RAF hangars were repurposed into passenger terminals—one for domestic and the other for international travel. With growing air traffic, the need for systematic airport development soon became evident.

The Jet Age and Expansion

With the onset of the Jumbo Jet era in the 1970s, the Santacruz airport, despite several expansions, fell short of meeting rising capacity demands. The International Airports Authority of India initiated the construction of a new terminal to segregate domestic and international operations. This led to the establishment of the new international terminal at Sahar in Andheri. In 1999, the airport was officially renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA).

75 Glorious Years of Growth

CSIA’s completion of 75 years of public service marks a proud milestone in India’s civil aviation history. Over seven and a half decades, the airport has witnessed phenomenal growth in passenger movement, prompting the development of world-class infrastructure to meet global standards.

Modernisation Through Public–Private Partnership

In 2006, the airport entered a new era when its operations were handed over under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model to Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd. (MIAL)—a joint venture between the GVK-led consortium and the Airports Authority of India. MIAL transformed the airport through significant upgrades in both terminal facilities and airside infrastructure. The crowning jewel of this modernisation was the creation of the state-of-the-art Terminal 2, setting new benchmarks in efficiency, design, and passenger experience.

A Global Aviation Leader

Today, CSIA handles over 45 million passengers annually, connecting Mumbai to more than 99 domestic and international destinations. Passenger traffic grew from 22 million and 584 flights per day in FY 2007 to 46 million and 867 daily flights in FY 2017. CSIA holds the distinction of being the only airport in the world to manage 935 flight movements on a single runway in one day.

“Jaya He” – A Cultural Showcase

Terminal 2 features the extraordinary “Jaya He” art programme, the largest public art initiative in India. Conceived to immerse travellers in the heritage of Mumbai and India, this cultural installation resembles a living museum, showcasing over 7,000 artworks crafted by artists and artisans from across the nation. It reflects India’s diverse cultural fabric through a powerful multidisciplinary display.

Awards and Global Recognition

CSIA’s world-class performance has earned it numerous accolades, including:

• ACI Director General’s Roll of Excellence (2015) for consistently ranking among the top five airports globally in its category for five consecutive years (2009–2014) under the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) programme.
• World’s Best Airport (2015) in the 25–40 million passengers category by ACI.
• Skytrax Award (2017) for Best Airport Staff Service.
• Recently rated the World’s Second-Best Airport in the over 40 million passengers per annum category by ACI.

Philatelic Tribute

To honour this iconic aviation landmark and its remarkable journey, a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport has been issued, celebrating its legacy, achievements, and contribution to India’s aviation sector.