IndiGo, Air India to shift flights to Navi Mumbai airport from December

IndiGo and the Air India Group will progressively shift some of their flights from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the newly built Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) from December, as part of a phased transition to ease capacity constraints and facilitate the redevelopment of Terminal 1.

The transition is expected to continue through the 2027 summer aviation season, with selected domestic and international services moving to NMIA. Airlines will retain their historical operating slots at CSMIA, according to statements issued by the airlines and airport operator Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL).

The move follows nearly 18 months of consultations between airlines and AAHL, which operates both airports. It is intended to ease congestion at CSMIA, accommodate rising air traffic and support the development of a dual-airport system for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

IndiGo will progressively transfer 12 daily international departures from CSMIA to NMIA, covering its existing services to Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat, Dhaka and Jakarta.

The airline will also introduce a daily service to Kathmandu, taking its international network at NMIA to 12 destinations between February and July 2027, according to the joint statement issued by IndiGo and the airport operator.

The Air India Group, meanwhile, will progressively shift Air India Express services to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Doha, Muscat and Sharjah to NMIA. The transition is expected to be completed by the International Air Transport Association's Northern Summer 2027 season.

The group said the move was part of the wider airport transition programme for domestic and international airlines and would support the long-awaited redevelopment of CSMIA's Terminal 1.

Operating from both airports is expected to improve connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, offer passengers greater choice and support the expansion of aviation infrastructure.

IndiGo plans international expansion

IndiGo will also shift the domestic services required to support international transfers at NMIA, allowing passengers to connect between its domestic and international flights at the new airport.

The airline and AAHL are in the final stages of operational planning, with the transition dates subject to project coordination and the necessary operating approvals.

The capacity freed up at CSMIA is expected to allow IndiGo to introduce additional international services across Asia, Africa and Europe in 2027, using its expanding fleet of A320, A321 and A321XLR aircraft.

The airline said the transition would also support the capacity reductions required for the redevelopment of CSMIA's Terminal 1 by 2030. Any further adjustments to its operations at Terminal 1 are expected to be accommodated at Terminal 2.

IndiGo and AAHL said they would continue working together to ensure a smooth transfer of operations and connections at NMIA.

The phased transition is intended to redistribute capacity between Mumbai's two airports in a transparent and proportionate manner, taking into account each airline's existing presence at CSMIA. The approach is also expected to minimise operational disruption and provide airlines and passengers with greater certainty as NMIA expands its operations.

IndiGo will announce the final dates for shifting services to NMIA and introducing new flights at CSMIA after the necessary coordination and operating approvals are completed.

Terminal 1 redevelopment at CSMIA

The planned transfer of around three million passengers is expected to account for approximately 60 per cent of the traffic targeted for relocation in the first phase. The initial phase aims to shift around five million passengers to NMIA, creating space for safety improvements, modernisation and expanded passenger-handling capacity at CSMIA.

The existing Mumbai airport handles around 55 million passengers annually. About 91 per cent of its traffic is expected to continue operating from CSMIA during the redevelopment programme.

The redevelopment is expected to increase Terminal 1's annual passenger-handling capacity by around 33 per cent, from 15 million to 20 million. Planned upgrades include improved safety measures, modernised passenger facilities and enhanced digital and processing systems.

The airport operator has said airlines' historical operating slots at CSMIA will be restored after the redevelopment is completed.

Navi Mumbai airport's expansion plans

NMIA is designed to handle 20 million passengers annually in its initial phase, with future expansion planned to increase its capacity to 90 million passengers.

The airport features automated baggage-handling systems, digital passenger-processing facilities and road links connecting it to business districts, logistics hubs and other centres across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Additional multimodal transport connections are also planned.

The development of two airports is expected to expand Mumbai's overall aviation capacity, improve domestic and international connections and create opportunities for more international routes and carriers.

For airlines, the transition offers scope to expand operations without adding pressure to the capacity-constrained CSMIA. For passengers, it could provide a wider choice of flights over time.

However, as services move in phases, passengers will need to check their departure airports carefully when booking tickets and before travelling.

PTI