IndiGo announced on May 9 that it will relocate 12 of its daily international flights from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the newly opened Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) in stages beginning February 2027 and ending July 2027. The airline’s schedule will see services to Bahrain, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Jakarta move first, with a new daily flight to Kathmandu added as the network expands.
The shift is part of an 18‑month consultation between the Airports Authority of India and the airlines, aimed at easing congestion at CSMIA and enabling the phased redevelopment of Terminal 1. Once the 12 departures relocate, CSMIA will have more room to add new routes and upgrade its facilities; the terminal’s redesign is projected to lift its annual passenger capacity from 15 million to 20 million by 2030.
Air India Express will follow a similar pattern, launching four daily domestic flights from NMIA in December 2026 and transferring its West Asia services by January 2027. Both carriers cite the need to maintain slot security at CSMIA while exploiting NMIA’s modern digital infrastructure and expanded road links, which include new bridges over Panvel Creek and the Gadhi River.
For commuters, the change means smoother transfers: a Mumbai‑based travel agent who handles 400 bookings a week said the new routing will reduce layover times by up to 90 minutes for passengers heading to Riyadh or Doha. The Airports Authority plans to begin construction on Terminal 1’s first phase in early 2028, with the full 2030 completion target set to cement Mumbai’s status as a dual‑airport global hub.