In a significant shift for India’s aviation sector, IndiGo and the Air India Group have announced plans to progressively relocate a portion of their flight operations from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the newly developed Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The transition is scheduled to commence in December 2026 and will be executed in phases, continuing through the first half of 2027.
This strategic move is designed to alleviate the heavy traffic congestion currently managed at CSMIA. By redistributing flight services, the airlines intend to free up essential capacity at the existing city airport. This newly available space is earmarked for the launch of new international routes connecting Mumbai to various destinations across Asia, Africa, and Europe, which are expected to materialize in 2027 as the airlines integrate their expanding fleets of A320, A321, and A321XLR aircraft.
IndiGo has outlined a comprehensive schedule for the transition. The carrier plans to relocate 12 of its daily international departures to NMIA, including existing services to Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat, Dhaka, and Jakarta. Furthermore, the airline will introduce a new daily service to Kathmandu, bringing its total international network at the Navi Mumbai facility to 12 destinations between February and July 2027. To facilitate passenger convenience, IndiGo will also shift the necessary domestic flight operations to NMIA, ensuring seamless connectivity for travelers connecting between domestic and international legs of their journeys.
The Air India Group is similarly preparing for the move, with a focus on streamlining its West Asia operations. Air India Express is slated to launch four daily domestic flights from NMIA starting in December 2026. Following this initial phase, the group plans to introduce services to Kuwait in January 2027, alongside the transfer of existing routes to Oman. Over the subsequent months, the airline will move its operations to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Doha, Muscat, and Sharjah, with the entire transition expected to conclude by the Northern Summer 2027 season.
Airport operator Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) is currently working closely with both airline groups to establish the necessary infrastructure required to support these operations. According to the Air India Group, the decision followed detailed discussions with the airport operator and represents part of a broader national strategy to balance operations between Mumbai’s two primary air transit hubs. This transition allows the airline group to maintain its strong presence in the Mumbai market while simultaneously preserving the historical operating slots it currently holds at CSMIA.
The broader context for this relocation is tied to a multi-year master plan that includes the redevelopment of CSMIA’s Terminal 1, which is scheduled for completion by 2030. By splitting operations across the two airports, aviation authorities and carriers aim to enhance efficiency and handle the increasing demand for air travel in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. As the launch date for the Navi Mumbai International Airport approaches, the shift underscores the rapid expansion of India's civil aviation infrastructure and the necessity of managing capacity across interconnected metropolitan hubs to support long-term growth.
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