IndiGo, Air India Group to Shift Flights to Navi Mumbai From December 2026

IndiGo and the Air India Group will progressively shift selected domestic and international services from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), under plans announced with Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) on 25 October 2026 (Yes Punjab, Fortune India, Hindustan Times). The Air India Group will begin moving West Asia services from December 2026 (Asianet Newsable), while IndiGo will start international operations at NMIA from February 2027, moving 12 daily international departures (Republic World, India Today). O Heraldo reported the shift of 38 daily international movements by IndiGo and Air India Express between December 2026 and July 2027 (O Heraldo).

What every report agrees on

All reports describe a phased transfer of flights from CSMIA to NMIA tied to the redevelopment of CSMIA's Terminal 1, which The Economic Times and Mint said is planned by 2030 and will require capacity adjustments (The Economic Times, Mint). IndiGo's move covers its existing CSMIA services to Bahrain, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat, Dhaka and Jakarta (India Today, The Economic Times). The Air India Group's share centres on West Asia routes flown by Air India Express (Asianet Newsable, The Hindu BusinessLine). Reports put the volume involved at roughly three million international passengers a year (The Hindu BusinessLine, O Heraldo). Several accounts said operating two airports is expected to expand Mumbai's overall aviation capacity, improve connectivity and open room for more international routes and carriers (Mathrubhumi, Republic World).

How the left-leaning press told it

The New Indian Express, Hindustan Times and The Indian Express: Breakthrough amid T1 renovation

The New Indian Express said the two airline groups had agreed to shift part of their operations and called it a breakthrough in a months-long stalemate with AAHL, noting that AAHL had earlier asked airlines, domestic and global, to move flights (The New Indian Express). Hindustan Times reported the announcement by Adani Airports and the Air India Group as a transition plan ahead of the Terminal 1 redevelopment, without describing a dispute (Hindustan Times). The Indian Express item carried the headline on the phased shift but no substantive text (The Indian Express).

How the right-leaning press told it

The Times of India, India Today, The Economic Times and Republic World: Deadlock thaws, capacity freed

The Times of India led with the wording that the deadlock over shifting international flights could finally be thawing, and reported that IndiGo and AAHL said they were in the final stages of operationalising the February 2027 start (The Times of India). India Today focused on the 12 daily departures and the freeing up of capacity at Mumbai (India Today). The Economic Times set the move within the plan to redevelop Terminal 1 by 2030 without characterising the negotiation (The Economic Times), while Republic World, rated right, presented a joint announcement and the building of NMIA as a long-term international hub (Republic World).

How the centre told it

Mint: Phased shift, capacity adjustment

Mint, rated centre, set out the phased move from December 2026 as a practical guide, tying it to AAHL readying Terminal 1 for redevelopment and to capacity adjustments expected by 2030 (Mint). It did not describe the agreement as the end of a standoff (Mint).

What the record shows

The reports do not settle how the agreement came about. The Times of India and The New Indian Express described it as a thaw or breakthrough after a stalemate between airlines and AAHL, with The New Indian Express saying AAHL had earlier asked domestic and global airlines to move flights (The Times of India, The New Indian Express). The Hindu BusinessLine said the development was a boost for the Adani Group, which faces resistance from global airlines over shifting one-third of flights (The Hindu BusinessLine). Accounts based on the joint announcement in Asianet Newsable, Yes Punjab, Republic World, Hindustan Times and Fortune India describe only a cooperative, phased plan and mention no dispute (Asianet Newsable, Yes Punjab, Republic World, Hindustan Times, Fortune India). The Economic Times refers to capacity being freed at CSMIA without characterising the talks (The Economic Times). Figures also differ in emphasis: IndiGo's 12 daily international departures appear across reports (Yes Punjab, India Today, The Economic Times), while O Heraldo puts the combined IndiGo and Air India Express total at 38 daily international movements (O Heraldo).

Drafted by the Alethman engine from 14 independent reports, and checked by an editor before publication. An outlet's side comes from published media-bias ratings (Media Bias/Fact Check, AllSides) or documented ownership, named under the coverage bar; Alethman does not rate outlets itself.