IndiGo and the Air India Group will transfer some flights from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport in phases beginning December, marking a significant step toward operating the metropolitan region’s two airports as an integrated aviation system.

The airlines announced their plans on Sunday, 25 October, following discussions with Adani Airport Holdings, which operates both airports. The transfer will initially focus on domestic services and flights to the Middle East, with further international routes moving during 2027.

The agreement comes amid a dispute over the proposed redistribution of flight slots at Mumbai’s existing airport, where airlines have questioned the justification for reducing operations ahead of the redevelopment of Terminal 1.

The decisions by IndiGo and Air India could help resolve part of the dispute, although other airlines have yet to agree to the broader plan.

Air India Group outlines phased transfer

Air India Group said Air India Express would begin operating four daily domestic flights from Navi Mumbai in December 2026. The airline plans to introduce services to Kuwait, subject to regulatory approval, and shift existing Oman services from January 2027.

It will subsequently transfer selected international services serving Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Doha, Muscat and Sharjah. The group said the transition was expected to be completed by the International Air Transport Association’s Northern Summer 2027 scheduling season.

The plan is intended to preserve the airline group’s existing operating rights at Mumbai while supporting the redevelopment of Terminal 1. Air India Group said the transfer followed continued discussions with the airport operator.

The company also emphasized that the transition would preserve its historical operating slots at the existing airport, an important consideration in a market where landing and departure slots are commercially valuable.

IndiGo to move Middle East services

IndiGo has separately agreed with Adani Airport Holdings to expand international operations from Navi Mumbai between February and July 2027.

The transfer will cover flights serving Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat, Dhaka and Jakarta.

The airline also plans to introduce a daily service to Kathmandu from Navi Mumbai.

The changes would bring IndiGo’s international departures from the new airport to 12 daily, according to the announced plan.

IndiGo will also transfer some domestic services to support international connections.

The airline and airport operator said the transition would support a more balanced distribution of capacity between Mumbai’s two airports.

The arrangement is also intended to provide space for IndiGo to expand international operations as additional aircraft enter its fleet.

Dispute over international flight slots

The transfers follow months of disagreement over plans to reduce international operations at Mumbai’s existing airport. Adani Airport Holdings has proposed shifting a substantial proportion of international flights to Navi Mumbai as part of preparations for redeveloping Terminal 1.

The proposal has faced opposition from the Airline Operators Committee Mumbai, which represents airlines operating at the airport.

According to an Indian Express report, the wider proposal could affect 265 of approximately 770 weekly international flights. Some services would be transferred to Navi Mumbai, while others could face suspension during the redevelopment period.

The committee has questioned whether the airport operator has provided sufficient evidence to justify the proposed reductions. Airlines are particularly concerned about losing valuable operating slots at an established airport with strong passenger demand and extensive domestic and international connections.

A stakeholder meeting scheduled for 28 October is expected to address outstanding concerns.

Why airport slots matter

Airport slots determine when airlines can take off and land at congested airports. At major international hubs, favorable departure and arrival times are valuable because they influence passenger demand, aircraft utilization and onward connections.

Airlines that have operated particular slots for years may have historical rights to retain them, subject to applicable allocation rules. Moving flights to another airport can affect operating costs, passenger demand and the efficiency of connecting services.

For airlines with established networks at Mumbai, the concern is not simply whether Navi Mumbai has sufficient capacity. They must also consider whether passengers will accept a different airport, whether connecting flights can be coordinated and whether existing slots will remain available after redevelopment.

Air India Group’s emphasis on preserving historical slots reflects those concerns.

Navi Mumbai’s commercial challenge

Navi Mumbai International Airport has been developed to relieve pressure on Mumbai’s existing airport and accommodate future growth in passenger traffic.

Mumbai’s established airport faces physical and operational constraints, limiting opportunities for significant expansion.

The new airport provides additional infrastructure, but attracting airlines and passengers remains a commercial challenge.

International airlines may be reluctant to move flights if their domestic connecting services remain concentrated at the older airport.

Similarly, passengers may prefer the established airport depending on their destination within the metropolitan region.

The phased approach adopted by IndiGo and Air India is intended to address some of those difficulties by transferring domestic and international services together.

Passengers face a changing airport map

For travelers, the immediate consequence will be the need to check departure and arrival airports carefully. Flights previously operating from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport may depart from Navi Mumbai after the transition.

Passengers connecting between domestic and international flights could face additional travel requirements if their journeys involve both airports. The effect will depend on how airlines coordinate their schedules and whether connecting flights are concentrated at the same facility.

Airport access, ground transport and passenger information will therefore be important to the success of the transition. Airlines will need to communicate changes clearly, particularly to passengers booking flights months in advance.

A larger shift in Mumbai aviation

The transfers mark an important stage in the development of Mumbai as a dual-airport market. Operating two major airports in the same metropolitan region can increase capacity, support new routes and reduce congestion.

However, dividing airline operations between airports can also create complications for connecting passengers and carriers.

The commercial success of the arrangement will depend on the distribution of flights, ground connectivity, passenger demand and the regulatory treatment of existing operating slots. IndiGo and Air India have now committed to significant transfers, but the wider dispute remains unresolved. The 28 October discussions may give a clearer indication of whether other airlines are prepared to accept the proposed redistribution, analysts said.