IndiGo and Air India to Shift One-Third of Flights to Navi Mumbai by Summer 2027
IndiGo and Air India Group plan to relocate a significant portion of their international flights to Navi Mumbai, defying opposition from foreign carriers.
IndiGo will move 84 international flights weekly to Navi Mumbai, representing 36.1% of its current operations.
Air India Group aims to shift 46 weekly departures, accounting for 34.3% of its international flights from Mumbai.
The transition is part of a larger redevelopment plan for Mumbai's Terminal 1, expected to be completed by summer 2027.
IndiGo and Air India Group have announced plans to transfer approximately one-third of their international flights from Mumbai Airport to the newly established Navi Mumbai Airport. This decision, made public on Sunday, comes despite strong opposition from foreign airlines regarding the proposed relocation, which is set to occur between January and the summer of 2027.
Currently, IndiGo operates 233 international departures weekly from Mumbai, with plans to shift 12 daily flights, totaling 84 weekly, to Navi Mumbai. This move represents 36.1% of its international operations. Similarly, the Air India Group, which encompasses Air India and Air India Express, operates 134 weekly international departures and plans to relocate services to six destinations, amounting to 46 weekly departures or 34.3% of its total.
The shift aligns with Mumbai International Airport Limited's (MIAL) long-standing request to relocate a portion of international flights to facilitate the redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Mumbai Airport. MIAL proposed moving 265 of the 770 weekly international departures to Navi Mumbai, but foreign carriers have expressed their concerns. For instance, Air France-KLM criticized the operational feasibility of splitting services between two airports, while Emirates highlighted the need for improved facilities at Navi Mumbai to support large-scale international operations.
IndiGo plans to commence international flights from Navi Mumbai in February 2027, progressively transitioning its services over several months. The airline will also introduce a daily flight to Kathmandu, expanding its international network to 12 destinations. The transition is expected to alleviate congestion at Mumbai Airport, allowing IndiGo to enhance its international offerings in the coming years.
Air India Group has similarly outlined its strategy to gradually shift services to six international destinations, with the entire process anticipated to conclude by the summer 2027 schedule. The redevelopment of Terminal 1 is projected to necessitate the removal of capacity for around 5 million passengers annually. MIAL has assured that historical slots will be restored once the terminal is operational again, expected by 2030. Despite previous opposition from airlines, MIAL has clarified that individual airlines can decide whether to relocate operations or temporarily suspend them until the terminal reopens.
