IndiGo, Air India to Shift Part of Mumbai Operations to Navi Mumbai for Terminal 1 Redevelopment
IndiGo and Air India have agreed to shift part of their operations from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), as part of plans to facilitate the phased redevelopment of Mumbai Airport’s ageing Terminal 1.
The agreement follows nearly 18 months of consultations between the airport operator and airlines to coordinate the transition. The planned relocation of approximately three million passengers represents about 60% of the five million passengers targeted for transfer to Navi Mumbai during the first phase.
The decision also reflects growing confidence among the two airlines in NMIA’s infrastructure and operational readiness.
Why Mumbai Airport’s Terminal 1 Needs Redevelopment
The redevelopment of CSMIA’s Terminal 1 is intended to address safety concerns reportedly raised by experts, modernise ageing infrastructure and provide a safer, more resilient terminal capable of handling growing passenger traffic.
The terminal’s annual passenger-handling capacity is expected to increase by approximately 33%, from 15 million to 20 million. The redevelopment will include upgraded passenger facilities, advanced digital systems and improved passenger-processing infrastructure.
Temporarily shifting selected airline operations to Navi Mumbai will create the necessary capacity to carry out the redevelopment in phases.
The airport operator has stated that airlines will retain their historical CSMIA slots, which will be restored once the redevelopment is completed.
According to the operator, only about 9% of CSMIA’s annual passenger traffic of 55 million will be temporarily relocated under the programme. The remaining 91% will continue to be handled at Mumbai Airport.
The modernised terminal is expected to improve passenger experience, increase operational efficiency and provide airlines with greater capacity for future growth. The redevelopment will also seek to preserve the airport’s local heritage, architectural character and aviation legacy.
Navi Mumbai to Support Mumbai’s Airport Capacity Expansion
Navi Mumbai International Airport’s Terminal 1 is designed to handle 20 million passengers annually, with future expansion planned to increase the airport’s overall capacity to 90 million.
The airport’s passenger infrastructure includes advanced processing systems, Digi Yatra, automated baggage handling and integrated digital platforms. Its road connectivity is also expected to improve through three new CIDCO bridges—SBR-9, BR-4 and BR-5—across Panvel Creek and the Gadhi River, linking NMIA with Atal Setu, Ulwe Coastal Road, Amra Marg and NH-4B, alongside the existing road network.
Planned multimodal transport links are expected to improve accessibility across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
NMIA also has dedicated cargo and cold-chain facilities, inflight catering infrastructure, hospitality facilities, retail and dining options, and passenger lounges.
The airport operator expects the development of NMIA alongside CSMIA to help distribute passenger traffic, ease capacity constraints and support Mumbai’s future aviation growth.
As Navi Mumbai expands its operations and network, it could attract additional international airlines, improve domestic–international connections and increase the city’s potential to handle international transfer traffic.
The two-airport system is also expected to support Mumbai’s economic development and international connectivity, contributing to India’s ambition to become a global aviation hub.
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