Navi Mumbai Airport Set For May Launch As IndiGo Leads Low-Cost Carrier Shift; Air India, SpiceJet, And Akasa In Talks

India’s highly anticipated Navi Mumbai International Airport is set to commence operations in May, with low-cost carriers leading the transition to the city’s second aviation hub, developed by billionaire Gautam Adani.

The airport, a $2.1 billion project, is designed to ease congestion at Mumbai’s existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and position the city as a global transit hub.

According to the Bloomberg report, IndiGo, India’s largest airline, will shift part of its operations to Navi Mumbai, while Tata Group’s Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air are in discussions to eventually relocate their entire operations.

However, Air India’s full-service division will continue to operate from the existing airport for now, with plans to move more domestic flights to the new facility in due course.

Both Mumbai’s current airport and Navi Mumbai’s new airport are managed by the Adani Group, giving the conglomerate a strategic advantage in negotiations with airlines over flight schedules, terminal usage, and relocation incentives.

Despite its ambitious goals, the new airport faces a major connectivity challenge.

Navi Mumbai lacks high-speed transport links to the city’s main hubs, and there is no direct connection between the two airports. Although a metro line linking them is in the pipeline, it will take years to materialise.

These incentives are crucial, as they will allow airlines to offer competitive fares and attract passengers who might otherwise favour the well-connected existing airport over the new facility.

The first phase of the airport will feature a single terminal, capable of handling 20 million passengers annually.

If demand remains strong, expansion will proceed in stages, with a target capacity of 90 million passengers over the next decade.

The terminal’s lotus-shaped architecture, inspired by India’s national flower, reflects the country’s cultural identity.

Sources indicate that some airlines have been asked to transition between April and June, focusing on domestic routes initially.

International flights are expected to commence in August, with Adani Airports engaging with Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline network—including Air India—to encourage member carriers to shift operations.

A test flight for dual-aisle aircraft, typically used for international routes, is scheduled for April, while IndiGo’s Airbus A320 completed the airport’s first validation flight in December 2023.