IndiGo, Air India Express to shift flights to Navi Mumbai airport ahead of Mumbai T1 redevelopment

IndiGo and Air India Express are set to shift a part of their flight operations from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Navi Mumbai Airport as it prepares for the redevelopment of Terminal 1. IndiGo and Air India Express are set to shift a part of their flight operations from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport in phases, as the Mumbai airport prepares for the redevelopment of Terminal 1.

IndiGo plans to begin international operations from Navi Mumbai in February 2027, gradually shifting 12 daily international departures from Mumbai airport. Air India Express, meanwhile, will start moving its domestic operations to the new airport from December 2026, followed by select international services.

The changes are part of a broader plan to distribute air traffic between the two airports serving the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and create capacity at the existing airport for redevelopment work. The airlines and Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) announced the plans on October 25.

IndiGo to operate international flights to 12 destinations

IndiGo will gradually transfer its existing international services from Mumbai to Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat, Dhaka and Jakarta to Navi Mumbai.

The airline will also introduce a new daily service to Kathmandu. With this addition, IndiGo plans to connect Navi Mumbai with 12 international destinations between February and July 2027.

The airline will also shift the domestic services required to support these international flights, allowing passengers to connect between domestic and international journeys at the new airport.

The transition is expected to free up capacity at Mumbai airport for IndiGo's international expansion across Asia, Africa and Europe in 2027. The airline and AAHL will also coordinate any further changes to IndiGo's operations at Terminal 1, with services to be accommodated at Terminal 2 as redevelopment progresses.

Air India Express to shift domestic, West Asia flights

Air India Express will begin its transition with four daily domestic flights from Navi Mumbai in December 2026. The airline plans to move services to Oman and introduce services to Kuwait from January 2027, subject to the required regulatory approvals for Kuwait.

The Air India Group also plans to shift selected services to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Doha, Muscat and Sharjah to Navi Mumbai. The transition is expected to be completed by the IATA Northern Summer 2027 season.

The airline group said operating from both Mumbai airports would help it maintain its existing operating slots while continuing to serve passengers in the region.

Mumbai Airport Terminal 1 redevelopment behind the shift

The planned changes come as Mumbai airport prepares to redevelop Terminal 1, a project expected to require capacity adjustments as work progresses towards 2030.

Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to play a larger role in handling air traffic as the Mumbai region moves towards a two-airport system. The phased transfer is intended to redistribute operations while minimising disruption for airlines and passengers.

The final dates for IndiGo's flight transfers and the introduction of new services will be announced after operational planning is completed and the required approvals are secured.

For passengers, the shift means checking the departure airport carefully when booking or travelling, as some services currently operating from Mumbai airport will move to Navi Mumbai in phases.