Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai: Terminal, Code, Location, Connectivity and Amenities

Mumbai does not merely have a busy airport — it has the gateway through which much of India meets the world. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, known across the industry as CSMIA or BOM, handled 55.5 million passengers in 2025, making it India’s second-busiest and one of the most significant aviation hubs in Asia. Named after the 17th-century Maratha emperor whose legacy runs through every corner of Maharashtra, the airport sits in Andheri’s northern edge, operating from two terminals — the older T1 at Santacruz handling domestic low-cost flights, and the celebrated T2 at Sahar handling all international traffic and full-service domestic carriers. Adani Airports took over operations in 2021, and Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) now connects T2 to the city via a pedestrian bridge that opened in August 2025 — the kind of rail link Mumbai had been waiting for since the terminal was built.

Quick Overview: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport

Mumbai Airport Location: Andheri North, 30 km From the City’s Historic Core

CSMIA is located in Andheri, central Mumbai — T1 in Santacruz and T2 in Sahar. The airport lies approximately 30 kilometres north of South Mumbai’s business and heritage core (Nariman Point, Fort, Colaba) and approximately 10 kilometres from Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai’s financial district. The elevation is just 12 metres above sea level, consistent with Mumbai’s low coastal topography.

The airport’s position in Andheri — sandwiched between the Western Express Highway and the suburban rail network — makes it simultaneously the most accessible and most congested airport approach in India. Western suburbs like Andheri, Juhu, Vile Parle, and Bandra are 15 to 30 minutes away in normal traffic. The city’s peak-hour gridlock can stretch that to 90 minutes or more. The Aqua Line metro, now directly connected to T2, is the single most significant ground-transport improvement Mumbai Airport has seen in a generation.

Mumbai Airport Code: IATA BOM and ICAO VABB

The IATA code is BOM and the ICAO code is VABB. BOM is one of the most searched airport codes in India — it appears on hundreds of thousands of boarding passes daily and is the booking identifier for all flights at both T1 and T2. VABB places it in the VA western India block. The airport has operated under the CSMIA name since 1999, with “Maharaj” added subsequently to give the current full official designation.

Mumbai Airport Terminals: T1, T2 and a Critical Difference

The single most important thing to know about Mumbai Airport is that T1 and T2 are separate buildings approximately 4 kilometres apart, not connected airside — and your terminal depends entirely on your airline.

Terminal 1 (T1) — Santacruz: The older domestic terminal handles low-cost carrier operations. IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air operate their Mumbai domestic flights from T1. The terminal is functional but noticeably older, compact, and busier per square metre than T2. Peak hours — particularly the 6 AM to 10 AM domestic departure wave — can feel congested. T1 does not have a Metro Line 3 connection; passengers use the highway approach.

Terminal 2 (T2) — Sahar: Opened in 2014, T2 is the flagship of Mumbai Airport — a four-level integrated terminal handling all international arrivals and departures and domestic flights of Air India and Air India Express. The terminal’s architecture, designed by SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill), includes India’s largest public art display — a 3-kilometre Heritage Art Wall featuring over 5,000 art pieces from across India. The ceiling is 30 metres high at its apex. T2 has extensive duty-free retail, multiple dining zones, premium passenger lounges, DigiYatra biometric boarding, and the in-terminal Niranta Airport Transit Hotel for layover passengers. It won Best Airport Over 40 Million Passengers in the Asia-Pacific region in 2025.

Inter-Terminal Transfer: A free 24/7 shuttle bus connects T1 and T2. The journey takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes. If you are connecting between a T1 domestic arrival and a T2 international departure (or vice versa), factor at least 90 minutes for the transfer.

Mumbai Airport Connectivity: The World From One Runway City

By Air (Domestic): BOM connects to every commercial domestic airport in India. IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Air India Express, and Alliance Air all operate extensive domestic networks from Mumbai. The Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Goa, Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Jaipur routes are among the highest-frequency domestic corridors in the country. Mumbai is the origin point or connecting hub for virtually all domestic travel from western and coastal India.

By Air (International): CSMIA handles direct flights to over 50 international destinations. Air India operates direct services to New York (JFK), Newark, San Francisco, London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Toronto, and multiple Asian and Gulf cities. IndiGo operates extensive Gulf, Southeast Asian, and European routes. Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Thai Airways, and dozens more serve Mumbai. Gulf connectivity is particularly dense — Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, and Bahrain all have multiple daily flights.

By Metro: Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) connects T2 directly via the CSMIA-T2 metro station, opened in October 2024. A pedestrian bridge from Exit 1A to the terminal opened in August 2025, reducing the walk to 100 metres. The Aqua Line connects T2 to BKC (Bandra-Kurla Complex) in approximately 20 minutes and to Colaba in approximately 40 minutes — transforming airport accessibility for central and south Mumbai travellers.

By Road: Western Express Highway (WEH) provides the primary road access. Taxis, Ola, Uber, and pre-paid taxis at the terminal exits serve all parts of Mumbai. The drive to South Mumbai is 60 to 120 minutes in typical traffic. Pre-paid taxi fares from T2 to Nariman Point range from ₹500 to ₹700; Bandra is approximately ₹300 to ₹400.

Mumbai Airport Amenities: India’s Most Comprehensive Airport Experience

T2 sets the benchmark for airport amenities in India. Duty-free shopping at T2 is among the most extensive in the country — perfumes, liquor, electronics, Indian handicrafts, and international luxury brands spread across multiple retail zones in the departure wing. Multiple fine-dining restaurants, café chains, fast-food outlets, and regional food counters serve diverse culinary preferences. The Heritage Art Wall running through the terminal is a cultural experience in itself.

Lounges at T2 include the Air India Maharaja Lounge, GVK Lounges accessible via Priority Pass and premium credit cards, and the Niranta Airport Transit Hotel for passengers needing a room between flights. DigiYatra biometric boarding is operational at all gates. Free Wi-Fi covers both terminals. Medical facilities, prayer rooms, child care rooms, and wheelchair assistance are available. The Pranaam concierge service at T2 assists premium passengers from landside to airside with dedicated support.

T1 amenities are more basic — functional cafes, seating, and standard airport retail — but adequate for the domestic low-cost journey that most T1 passengers are making.

FAQs: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai

Q1. What is the IATA code for Mumbai Airport?

BOM is the IATA code and VABB is the ICAO code. The airport’s full official name is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), located in Andheri, Mumbai.

Q2. Which terminal should I go to — T1 or T2?

T1 (Santacruz) is for domestic flights on IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air. T2 (Sahar) is for all international flights and domestic flights on Air India and Air India Express. Always verify with your airline — terminal assignments can change.

Q3. Is there a metro to Mumbai Airport?

Yes. Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) has a station at T2 (CSMIA-T2 metro station). A pedestrian bridge connecting the station to the terminal opened in August 2025. The metro reaches BKC in approximately 20 minutes and connects to the broader Mumbai Metro network.

Q4. How far is Mumbai Airport from the city centre?

Approximately 30 km from South Mumbai (Nariman Point, Colaba) and 10 km from BKC. Road travel to South Mumbai takes 60 to 120 minutes in typical traffic; the Metro to BKC takes approximately 20 minutes from T2.

Q5. Does T1 have a Metro connection or lounge?

No. T1 does not have a Metro Line 3 connection — that is only at T2. T1 also does not have a Priority Pass lounge. Passengers at T1 use the WEH road access and standard airport seating in the domestic terminal.