IndiGo, Air India to Shift Flights to Navi Mumbai
IndiGo and Air India Group will progressively move selected flight operations from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), starting in December 2026. The transition will help accommodate the phased redevelopment of Mumbai airport’s Terminal 1 while maintaining connectivity for passengers.
The airlines will shift services in stages over the coming months. Air India Express will begin operating four daily domestic flights from Navi Mumbai in December 2026, with plans to introduce services to Kuwait, subject to approvals, and operate existing services to Oman from January 2027.
IndiGo plans to transfer 12 daily international departures to Navi Mumbai, covering destinations including Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Kuwait, Muscat, Dhaka and Jakarta. It also plans to introduce a daily service to Kathmandu, with its international network at the new airport expected to expand between February and July 2027.
Mumbai Airport Terminal 1 Capacity to Rise 33%
The relocation of selected flights will create additional operating capacity at Mumbai airport as Terminal 1 undergoes redevelopment. The initial phase of the broader transition aims to shift around five million passengers annually to Navi Mumbai.
According to Adani Airports, the redevelopment will increase Terminal 1’s annual passenger-handling capacity from 15 million to 20 million, a rise of approximately 33%. The project will include safety improvements, modernised passenger facilities and upgraded digital infrastructure.
The redevelopment is planned in phases to minimise disruption to airport operations. Adani Airports has stated that airlines’ existing slots at Mumbai airport will be restored after the work is completed.
Mumbai Moves Towards a Dual-Airport System
The gradual transfer of flights is expected to strengthen the role of Navi Mumbai International Airport in the Mumbai metropolitan region’s aviation network. Operating two airports will help distribute passenger traffic, ease capacity constraints and support future growth in domestic and international connectivity.
The transition is also intended to allow Mumbai airport to modernise its ageing Terminal 1 while airlines continue serving the region from both airports. Final flight schedules will depend on operational coordination and the required approvals.
