Flying from Mumbai? Your IndiGo or Air India Flight could shift to Navi Mumbai Airport

To create capacity for the redevelopment of Terminal 1 and pave the way for a dual-airport system in Mumbai, IndiGo and Air India Group have decided to progressively shift flights from the existing airport to the newly built Navi Mumbai International Airport from December.

The transition to the Navi Mumbai airport is being planned in phases through the 2027 summer aviation season, as per officials. The shift is being followed after nearly 18 months of consultations between airlines and Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, which operates both Mumbai airports.

"IndiGo will progressively transfer 12 daily international departures from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to NMIA, representing all the present operations from CSMIA to Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat, Dhaka and Jakarta. An additional daily service to Kathmandu will also be introduced, taking IndiGo's international network at NMIA to 12 destinations between February and July 2027," a joint statement by IndiGo and the airport said, as per PTI.

The Air India group mentioned that it "will progressively transition Air India Express services to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Doha, Muscat, and Sharjah, to NMIA, with the process expected to be completed by the IATA Northern Summer 2027 season."

Why is the transition taking place?

According to officials, the transition is a result of continued collaborative engagement with the airport operator and is aligned with the wider airport transition programme for both Indian and international airlines and will support the long-awaited redevelopment of CSMIA Terminal 1. "The phased move also supports the development of Mumbai's dual-airport system while enabling Air India Group to continue serving the market efficiently and preserve the historicity of its existing operating slots at CSMIA."

The transition is also expected to provide travellers with choice and convenience, and support the continued growth of aviation infrastructure in the region.

The official statement also mentioned that the phased transition is intended to support a transparent, equitable and proportionate rebalancing of capacity across Mumbai's dual airport system, taking into account each airline's presence at CSMIA.

IndiGo will announce final dates for the transition of services to NMIA and introduction of new services to CSMIA after completion of final project coordination and relevant operating approvals are secured, the statement added.

With the capability to handle 20 million passengers annually in its initial phase, Navi Mumbai International Airport boasts extensive infrastructure that includes automated baggage handling, digital passenger-processing systems and road links serving business districts, logistics hubs and other centres across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

(With PTI inputs)