MUMBAI- IndiGo (6E) sees Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) as an important part of its long-term international expansion strategy, with the airline planning to develop a stronger presence across the Mumbai metropolitan region. Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh said on November 2, 2026, that the new Navi Mumbai airport offers significant opportunities to expand international and long-haul operations.
Walsh’s comments come as several foreign airlines oppose the proposed redistribution of international flights between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. However, the IndiGo chief said the airline’s decisions would be based on its own expansion requirements and its relationship with airport operator Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), rather than the objections raised by other carriers.
IndiGo Backs Airport Shift
Walsh said Navi Mumbai would become an important part of IndiGo’s future network rather than serving only as a temporary alternative during redevelopment work at Mumbai airport. He highlighted the opportunity to increase the airline’s international reach while maintaining operations at both airports.
IndiGo and AAHL announced on October 25 that they were finalising arrangements for the airline to begin international operations from Navi Mumbai in February 2027. The carrier plans to progressively transfer 12 daily international departures from Mumbai to the new airport between February and July 2027.
The transferred services will cover Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat, Dhaka and Jakarta. IndiGo also plans to introduce a daily Kathmandu service, bringing its international network at Navi Mumbai to 12 destinations.
The airline will additionally transfer selected domestic operations to provide connecting flights for international passengers. The arrangement is intended to establish Navi Mumbai as a long-term international hub while allowing IndiGo to expand its existing operations at Mumbai.
Foreign Airlines Resist Move
The proposed shift is part of a wider plan by Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) to redistribute traffic before beginning the redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Mumbai airport.
The renovation is expected to start in 2027 and continue until 2030, requiring changes to existing terminal capacity and airline operations.
MIAL has asked airlines to relocate a portion of their international services to Navi Mumbai, with the aim of temporarily transferring traffic equivalent to five million passengers annually.
The airport operator requested airlines to submit their transition plans by November 3, 2026, ahead of the proposed summer 2027 schedule.
Several foreign carriers, including Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Emirates, have raised concerns about the proposed relocation.
Their objections involve airport readiness, infrastructure availability, slot allocation and the operational difficulties of moving services between two airports serving the same metropolitan region.
Walsh said IndiGo had a constructive relationship with AAHL and maintained regular discussions with its leadership.
He also acknowledged the need to accommodate Mumbai airport’s redevelopment, indicating that the airline sees the transition as an opportunity rather than simply a regulatory requirement.
IndiGo’s Long-Haul Expansion Plans
IndiGo’s interest in Navi Mumbai also coincides with its plans to enter the wide-body long-haul market.
The airline expects to begin receiving Airbus A350 aircraft in the second quarter of 2028, providing additional capacity for international services beyond its existing short- and medium-haul network.
The carrier plans to use its expanding A320 and A321 fleet, including A321XLR aircraft, to introduce additional international services across Asia, Africa and Europe during 2027.
The capacity freed up at Mumbai airport through the Navi Mumbai transition will support this expansion while allowing the airline to maintain operations at both airports.
IndiGo currently operates more than 2,100 flights daily and has an operational fleet of over 400 aircraft.
Walsh believes the combination of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai will provide the airline with additional room to grow as it develops its international network and prepares for wide-body operations.
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