IndiGo Plans to Transfer 12 International Flights to Navi Mumbai Airport to Reduce Mumbai Airport Congestion

IndiGo to Relocate 12 International Flights to Navi Mumbai Airport From February 2027

IndiGo will begin shifting 12 daily international departures from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Navi Mumbai International Airport from February 2027. The decision comes after a larger proposal to redistribute international flights between the two airports was postponed following objections from airlines.

The planned transfer will cover IndiGo’s existing services connecting Mumbai with Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat, Dhaka and Jakarta.

The airline will also launch a new daily service to Kathmandu, taking its international network at Navi Mumbai to 12 destinations between February and July 2027. IndiGo and Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) confirmed the development in a joint statement.

To improve connectivity for international travellers, some domestic flights will also be moved to Navi Mumbai. The airline and airport operator are working on arrangements to facilitate connections between domestic and international services.

The final transfer dates and flight schedules will be announced after consultations are completed and the required operational clearances are obtained.

MOVE TO CREATE ROOM FOR MORE INTERNATIONAL SERVICES

The relocation is expected to free up capacity at CSMIA, allowing IndiGo to expand its international operations across Asia, Africa and Europe in 2027. The airline plans to support this expansion with its growing fleet of A320, A321 and A321XLR aircraft.

Moving selected domestic services will also help address operational capacity constraints associated with the planned redevelopment of Mumbai airport’s Terminal 1 by 2030.

AIRLINE OBJECTIONS DELAYED THE LARGER PLAN

Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), which operates CSMIA, had proposed shifting 265 of its 770 weekly international departures to Navi Mumbai from October 25. The proposed changes would have affected around 46 airlines.

The transfer was intended to reduce congestion at CSMIA and make room for the redevelopment of its ageing Terminal 1.

However, airlines raised concerns about passenger convenience, flight schedules, airport capacity and the consultation process. The Civil Aviation Ministry subsequently asked MIAL to defer the proposal and develop a transition plan in consultation with the affected carriers.

On October 13, MIAL stated that existing international flight allocations would remain unchanged throughout the winter schedule, which ends on March 27, 2027. Any further transfers would be considered after discussions with individual airlines.

IndiGo’s decision represents a phased shift of its own operations as the two airports work towards a broader transition.

NAVI MUMBAI AIRPORT BUILDS ITS INTERNATIONAL NETWORK

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Phase 1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport in October 2025, with the project estimated to have cost around Rs 19,650 crore.

Commercial flights began operating on December 25, 2025. IndiGo operated the airport’s first arrival from Bengaluru and its first departure to Hyderabad. International operations commenced on July 15, 2026, with an Air India Express flight to Abu Dhabi.

The airport’s planned infrastructure comprises four terminals and two parallel runways, alongside an Automated People Mover to connect the terminals. Facilities for storing sustainable aviation fuel are also included in the development.

The Adani Group has interests in both airports. AAHL owns 74 per cent of MIAL, which in turn holds a 74 per cent stake in Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited.

IndiGo’s planned relocation is expected to strengthen Navi Mumbai’s international connectivity while releasing capacity at Mumbai’s existing airport for future expansion and infrastructure upgrades.