After an initial deadlock, India's two largest airline operators, IndiGo and Air India, have reached an agreement with Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) to commence a phased transition of international flight operations to the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). This strategic move is slated to begin in February 2027, primarily impacting routes connecting to West Asia.
The decision follows AAHL's revised plan, which scaled down the initial relocation target from 5 million to approximately 3 million passengers in the first phase. This adjustment addresses earlier pushback from both domestic and international carriers who raised concerns about operational disruptions and the readiness of the new facility.
Why the Navi Mumbai Flight Shift?
The primary catalyst for this relocation is the impending redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). This project, set to commence in January 2027, aims to boost CSMIA's annual passenger handling capacity by 33%, from 15 million to 20 million. By shifting a portion of international traffic to NMIA, CSMIA can free up critical capacity for these crucial infrastructure upgrades.
IndiGo and Air India's Transition Plans
- IndiGo: Will progressively transfer 12 daily international departures from CSMIA to NMIA between February and July 2027. These include services to Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat, Dhaka, and Jakarta. An additional daily service to Kathmandu will also be introduced. IndiGo will also transition necessary domestic connectivity to support these international services.
- Air India Group: Will begin shifting some West Asia services to NMIA. Air India Express will operate four daily domestic flights from December 2026, followed by planned services to Kuwait and existing services to Oman from January 2027. The full transition for Air India Express services to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Doha, Muscat, and Sharjah is expected to be completed by the IATA Northern Summer 2027 season.
International Airlines Remain Resistant
While domestic giants have agreed, several international carriers continue to oppose the forced relocation. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) previously wrote to India's Civil Aviation Ministry, citing concerns over NMIA's readiness in areas such as ground handling, aircraft maintenance, catering, cargo facilities, crew accommodation, and connectivity. Airlines like Emirates and Air France-KLM have also flagged potential operational complexities from splitting long-haul operations between two airports.
AAHL is set to hold a stakeholders meeting with the Airline Operators Committee (AOC) to further discuss the transition. The agreement with IndiGo and Air India, however, is likely to exert pressure on other international airlines to comply with the revised relocation plans.