Terminal 1

Journey with me back to the 1930s. Terminal 1 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport wasn’t always a bustling hub for budget airlines. It began as RAF Santacruz, a vital air force base. Imagine the roar of wartime aircraft taking off from where we now stand. By 1946, as the RAF handed over the airfield for civilian use, two former hangars were transformed. They became the airport’s first passenger terminals, one for domestic flights and the other for international travel. Can you picture passengers navigating these repurposed spaces? Terminal 1, then known simply as Santacruz Airport, quickly became India’s busiest airport. By the 1970s, with the arrival of jumbo jets, the terminal struggled to cope with the surge in passengers. It was originally designed for 600 passengers but was handling double that amount. The terminal even earned the nickname “black hole” due to the overwhelming congestion. A new international terminal was built at Sahar in 1980. This allowed Santacruz to focus on domestic flights. It later became the Terminal 1 we know today. Even now, Terminal 1 primarily serves budget airlines like AirAsia India, IndiGo, and Go First. While Terminal 2 handles international and other domestic flights. Interestingly, a free shuttle bus connects the two terminals. But be warned, they are 4 kilometers apart. The transfer process can take time due to security checks. So, next time you’re at Terminal 1, remember its fascinating evolution. From a military base to a chaotic “black hole” to the modern domestic terminal it is today, Terminal 1 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport holds a special place in Mumbai’s aviation history.