Mumbai airlines set phased Navi Mumbai flight shift from December
Terminal redevelopment is dividing Mumbai’s airport capacity between two hubs.
Overview
Mumbai is moving toward a two-airport system as takes on more flights from December 2026. Air India Express will start four daily domestic flights there, followed by selected services to Oman and planned Kuwait flights from January 2027, subject to approvals. IndiGo will shift 12 daily international departures between February and July, covering Gulf, West Asian, South Asian and Southeast Asian routes, while adding Kathmandu. 1
The change is driven by redevelopment of at , which will reduce available capacity during construction. An earlier proposal to move about one-third of international flights was delayed after airlines objected to , citing connections, airport access, and passenger disruption. The phased plan should free space at the existing airport and build Navi Mumbai’s network, but passengers may face longer or less convenient journeys, and final schedules still depend on regulatory and operational approvals. 4
Timeline
Mumbai airlines announce a phased shift to Navi Mumbai from December 2026
is scheduled to begin selected domestic services from Navi Mumbai in December 2026 and phase in from January 2027. IndiGo plans to begin international operations there in February 2027 and progressively transfer 12 daily departures, with its Navi Mumbai network expected to reach 12 destinations by July 2027.
Air India Group and IndiGo establish a phased two-airport model for Mumbai
The announced timetable begins with Air India Express domestic flights in December 2026, followed by selected international services in January 2027 and IndiGo's international transfers from February through July. This will divide passenger flows, airline connections and terminal demand between Navi Mumbai International Airport and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Passengers will need to verify the departure airport carefully because airport-to-airport transfers add surface travel time and can complicate connections.
IndiGo identifies Gulf, West Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia routes for the move
The transferred IndiGo services will cover Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat, Dhaka and Jakarta. IndiGo also plans to introduce a daily Kathmandu service from Navi Mumbai. Together, these routes will give the new airport an international network spanning the Gulf, West Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia by July 2027.
IndiGo announces a phased transfer of 12 daily international departures to Navi Mumbai
IndiGo and announced that IndiGo will begin international operations at Navi Mumbai in February 2027. The airline will progressively transfer 12 daily international departures from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport between February and July 2027. The phased window avoids a single-day disruption and is intended to align route changes with airport capacity and passenger planning.
Air India Group plans to shift selected Oman services and planned Kuwait services from January 2027
From January 2027, the Air India Group plans to move selected services to Oman from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport. Planned are also expected to operate from Navi Mumbai. The changes remain subject to regulatory and operational approvals, so schedules may still change.
Air India Express schedules four daily domestic flights from Navi Mumbai for December 2026
is set to begin operations from Navi Mumbai International Airport with four daily domestic flights in December 2026. The launch provides the first confirmed stage of the Air India Group's two-airport operating model. Domestic services will give passengers an alternative airport while Terminal 1 redevelopment continues at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Airport operators defer the broad international shift and begin planning a phased transition
The immediate plan to move about one-third of international flights was deferred as airport operators and airlines worked toward a more gradual arrangement. The revised approach links the transition to the rather than imposing a single large-scale switch. Final operations still depend on coordination and .
Airlines resist a compulsory international-flight transfer to Navi Mumbai
Airlines objected to the proposed large-scale relocation, describing it as a forced move rather than an airline-led network decision. Their concerns included , passenger disruption, and the difficulty of preserving convenient connections across two airports. The resistance prevented an immediate broad transfer under the original timetable.
Adani Airports and airlines plan a phased shift of Mumbai flights to Navi Mumbai
Adani Airports and participating airlines announced phased plans to move selected services from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport. IndiGo's international transfer is planned to begin in February 2027, while Air India Express is scheduled to start selected domestic services in December 2026.
Mumbai airport begins Terminal 1 redevelopment, creating pressure to redistribute flights
The redevelopment will initially demolish the north section of , which represents about one-third of Terminal 1 capacity. The phased work is intended to limit disruption, but it creates an immediate need to manage scarce terminal capacity at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The project became the infrastructure trigger for shifting some operations to .