Two of India's biggest low-cost carriers are preparing to move a large chunk of their Mumbai operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) over the coming months, as Terminal 1 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) is redeveloped. Here's what flyers need to know.
Air India Express: from December 2026
- December 2026: Air India Express begins with four daily domestic flights from Navi Mumbai.
- January 2027: Existing Oman services are slated to move.
- Later phases: International flights to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Doha, Muscat and Sharjah are expected to shift; Kuwait services are subject to approvals.
IndiGo: from February 2027
- February–July 2027: IndiGo will move 12 daily international departures from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai in phases.
- The airline will also add a daily Kathmandu service from Navi Mumbai.
Together, the two airlines are expected to shift around 130 weekly international departures out of CSMIA, according to aviation industry reports.
Why the move
The shift is tied to the planned rebuild of Terminal 1 at Mumbai's main airport, which will reduce capacity at CSMIA while work is under way. Navi Mumbai's new airport, which began commercial operations on December 25, 2025, gives airlines room to keep flying from the region.
What passengers should do
- Check your ticket's departure airport. Bookings for travel after the switch dates will show NMI (Navi Mumbai) rather than BOM (Mumbai).
- Plan your commute. Navi Mumbai airport is across the harbour; allow extra travel time from the western suburbs and South Mumbai.
- Watch for airline emails and SMS alerts, which will confirm any change to existing bookings.
Schedules and dates may still change subject to regulatory approvals. Bombay Times Group will update this explainer as airlines publish their final timetables.
