Flight shifts to Navi Mumbai airport

IndiGo and the Air India group will gradually shift some of their flights to Navi Mumbai airport, beginning in December 2026. This change is part of a larger plan to redevelop Terminal 1 at the historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai.

Reorganization of flight services

The airlines and Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), which operates both airports, announced on October 25 that they will progressively redistribute some domestic and international flights. Air India Express will begin moving flights in December, followed by IndiGo’s international services between February and July 2027.

IndiGo’s international flight transfers

IndiGo plans to transfer twelve daily international flights from CSMIA to Navi Mumbai. These flights currently serve destinations such as Bahrain, Riyadh, and Dhaka. The airline will also move domestic flights to support these international services, aiming to allow passengers to connect between domestic and international flights at the same airport.

Long-term expansion strategy

IndiGo and AAHL stated in a joint statement that this move is part of a long-term strategy to make Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) an international hub. Specific dates for the transition will be announced once operational coordination and approvals are finalized.

Air India Express’s transition

Within the Air India group, Air India Express will begin its transition in December 2026 with four daily domestic flights from Navi Mumbai. International services, including routes to Oman and Kuwait, are expected to follow in early 2027, pending regulatory approvals.

Redevelopment of Terminal 1

The redevelopment of Terminal 1 at CSMIA aims to increase its annual capacity from 15 to 20 million passengers. This will involve upgrading security, modernizing facilities, and implementing new digital processing systems. Adani Airports stated that about 91% of traffic will continue to use the historic airport during the redevelopment.

Future expansion plans

For IndiGo, the shift to Navi Mumbai aims to free up space at CSMIA to launch new routes to Asia, Africa, and Europe in 2027. The airline plans to use its Airbus A320 and A321 fleet, including the A321XLR, to support this expansion. Navi Mumbai, which opened in December 2025, has a long-term goal of handling 90 million passengers annually.