Navi Mumbai flights are set for a phased expansion after IndiGo, Air India Group and airport operator Adani announced separate transition plans on Oct. 25, 2026. Air India Express expects to start four daily domestic services in December, while IndiGo plans international operations beginning in February 2027.
The two announcements describe intended changes, not a completed relocation. Final operating dates and certain routes depend on airline coordination, airport readiness and applicable approvals. Passengers should not assume an existing booking has already moved between airports.
The moves are part of an attempt to balance traffic between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai International Airport while Terminal 1 at the older airport is prepared for redevelopment.
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Navi Mumbai flights gain 12 planned IndiGo departures
IndiGo said it would progressively transfer 12 daily international departures from the existing Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai between February and July 2027. The transfers concern 11 existing destinations: Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat, Dhaka and Jakarta.
The airline also announced a daily Kathmandu service, creating a planned 12-destination international network at Navi Mumbai. The difference between 12 departures and 12 destinations matters: 11 existing city markets are to move, with Kathmandu adding the twelfth destination.
IndiGo said domestic connecting capacity would shift alongside international operations so travelers could make connections at the same airport. The carrier will announce final route-transfer dates after project coordination and necessary regulatory permissions are completed.
Air India Express sets a December domestic start
Air India Group said Air India Express would start four daily domestic flights at Navi Mumbai in December 2026. From January 2027, it plans to operate existing Oman services and planned Kuwait services from the new airport, with Kuwait subject to regulatory approvals.
The group also identified Air India Express services to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Doha, Muscat and Sharjah for progressive transfer. Its stated ambition is to finish that phase by the IATA Northern Summer 2027 season; it did not provide a confirmed migration date for each individual route.
Operating from two Mumbai-area airports will give the airline group different scheduling options, but passengers will need to distinguish the two airport names and verify departure terminals. A ticket to Mumbai does not automatically mean the same airport will be used after the transition.
Terminal 1 redevelopment drives the two-airport plan
The companies describe the shift as part of broader capacity planning for redevelopment of Terminal 1 at the older Mumbai airport. IndiGo said its transferred operations should make space for further international expansion, including services using Airbus A320-family and A321XLR aircraft.
Indian Express reporting says the wider slot-allocation proposal remains disputed by other airlines. The announcements by IndiGo and Air India therefore should not be treated as universal agreement by all carriers about the redistribution of international flights.
Mumbai’s regional aviation market includes international connections to Oman, among others. For nearby route-network context, TAD has covered Oman Air’s winter network changes; that earlier story is separate from the proposed Navi Mumbai airport transition.
FAQ: Navi Mumbai flights
When do Navi Mumbai flights begin for Air India Express?
Air India Express plans four daily domestic flights from December 2026; selected Oman and planned Kuwait operations are expected from January 2027.
When will IndiGo move its Navi Mumbai flights?
IndiGo targets a phased international transition from February through July 2027, subject to coordination and approvals.
Will every Mumbai international flight move to Navi Mumbai?
No. The announced plans cover selected services. Other carriers and the wider slot-reallocation process remain separate matters.
Looking Ahead
Navi Mumbai flights will require final airline schedules, airport readiness and any outstanding operating approvals. IndiGo has promised more specific route dates, while Air India Express has outlined a staged December-to-summer transition rather than confirmed every individual flight.
Sources
- IndiGo and Adani Oct. 25 announcement
- Air India Group Oct. 25 announcement
- Indian Express on airline slot dispute
