Akasa Air will shift its Mumbai-Jeddah services to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) from December 2026, becoming the latest carrier to move part of its operations to the city’s new airport as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region transitions towards a dual-airport system.
The airline said bookings for the Navi Mumbai-Jeddah route opened on October 26 through its website, mobile application and online travel platforms. The service will operate from NMIA beginning December.
The move follows similar announcements by IndiGo and the Air India Group, both of which have outlined plans to gradually transfer select operations from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Navi Mumbai. The transition is expected to ease congestion at Mumbai’s main airport and create capacity for the redevelopment of Terminal 1.
Airport operator Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), which manages both airports, has been working with airlines for more than a year to facilitate the phased migration of services. The first phase is expected to see around 5 million passengers shifted to NMIA, with nearly 3 million passengers coming from airlines participating in the initial relocation programme.
The capacity released at CSMIA will allow work to begin on the modernisation of Terminal 1, including safety upgrades, expanded passenger facilities and improved operational infrastructure. The redevelopment is expected to increase the terminal’s annual passenger handling capacity from 15 million to 20 million.
For Akasa Air, the shift expands its presence at Navi Mumbai and strengthens international connectivity from the new airport. The airline currently serves 31 domestic and seven international destinations.
Navi Mumbai International Airport has been designed to handle 20 million passengers annually in its first phase, with expansion plans eventually taking capacity up to 90 million passengers. The airport features automated baggage systems, digital passenger-processing technology and road connectivity across key parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
With inputs from PTI
