Move to ease congestion at Mumbai airport; new Kathmandu service will expand international connectivity to 12 destinations
IndiGo plans to relocate 12 daily international departures from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) from February 2027, in a phased move aimed at easing congestion and creating additional capacity at Mumbai’s existing airport.
The decision comes after a broader proposal to transfer international flights to Navi Mumbai was deferred following objections from airlines over passenger convenience, operational capacity and scheduling arrangements.
According to a joint statement by IndiGo and Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), the transfer will cover the airline’s existing international services from Mumbai to Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat, Dhaka and Jakarta.
IndiGo also plans to introduce a new daily service to Kathmandu. With the addition of the Nepalese capital, the airline’s international network from Navi Mumbai is expected to cover 12 destinations between February and July 2027.
The final transfer dates and flight schedules will be announced after consultations are completed and the necessary operational approvals are obtained.
Domestic Flights May Also Be Relocated
Alongside the international transfers, some domestic services may also move to Navi Mumbai to facilitate passenger connections between domestic and international flights.
IndiGo and AAHL are working on arrangements to ensure convenient transfers for passengers connecting between the two networks.
The relocation is expected to release capacity at CSMIA, allowing IndiGo to introduce additional international services across Asia, Africa and Europe during 2027. The airline plans to utilise its expanding fleet of Airbus A320, A321 and A321XLR aircraft for its growth strategy.
The move could also help accommodate operational adjustments associated with the planned redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Mumbai airport by 2030.
Earlier Airport Transfer Plan Deferred
The latest announcement follows a broader proposal by Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), the operator of CSMIA, to shift 265 of its 770 weekly international departures to Navi Mumbai from October 25, affecting approximately 46 airlines.
The proposed transfer was intended to reduce congestion at Mumbai’s existing airport and create additional operational capacity ahead of the redevelopment of its ageing Terminal 1.
However, several airlines raised concerns about passenger convenience, flight schedules, airport capacity and the consultation process. Following these objections, the Civil Aviation Ministry directed MIAL to defer the proposed transfer and work towards an arrangement acceptable to the airlines concerned.
On October 13, MIAL announced that existing international flight allocations would remain unchanged throughout the winter schedule, which ends on March 27, 2027. Any subsequent transfers would be undertaken following consultations with individual airlines.
IndiGo’s proposed relocation is therefore part of a phased approach to shifting selected services to Navi Mumbai rather than implementing a blanket transfer affecting multiple carriers simultaneously.
Navi Mumbai Airport Expands Its Operations
Navi Mumbai International Airport, one of the major aviation infrastructure projects in the Mumbai metropolitan region, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2025. Phase 1 of the project was developed at an estimated cost of ₹19,650 crore.
Commercial operations began on December 25, 2025, with IndiGo operating 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 master plan includes four terminals and two parallel runways, alongside an Automated People Mover system designed to connect the terminals. The development also includes infrastructure for storing sustainable aviation fuel.
Two Airports to Play Complementary Roles
The proposed relocation of IndiGo’s international flights is expected to strengthen Navi Mumbai’s role in the region’s expanding aviation network while providing additional capacity at CSMIA.
Both airports are controlled by the Adani Group through its airport operations structure. AAHL holds a 74 per cent stake in MIAL, which operates CSMIA, and also holds a 74 per cent stake in Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited.
The phased transfer of IndiGo services could mark an important step towards distributing air traffic between the two airports, improving operational flexibility and supporting future growth in domestic and international passenger demand.
The final implementation will depend on airline coordination, passenger connectivity arrangements and the required operational clearances.