IndiGo will start daily flights connecting Tamil Nadu with the newly operational Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) from 29 December 2025, offering passengers an alternative to the congested Mumbai airspace. The airline’s services from Chennai and Coimbatore aim to improve accessibility, reduce pressure on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, and strengthen regional air connectivity.
The services will be operated on 186-seat Airbus A320 aircraft, all economy class, aligned with NMI’s first-phase operational hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The airport is expected to shift to 24-hour operations by February 2026, enabling further expansion of domestic and international flight networks. Mumbai’s airspace remains operationally complex due to heavy traffic, and NMI is strategically positioned to accommodate rising passenger volumes. Indigo currently operates nine daily flights from Chennai and three from Coimbatore to Mumbai’s main airport. The new direct services to NMI mark the airline’s first southern connections to the greenfield facility, signalling its commitment to expanding domestic routes.
Chennai services, targeted at business travellers, will operate as flight numbers 6E 898 and 6E 899, departing Chennai at 6.10 a.m. and returning from NMI at 7.40 p.m. Coimbatore flights, 6E 860 and 6E 861, will depart NMI at 9 a.m. and 11.15 a.m. respectively, with return flights optimised for day travel. “These new routes provide passengers with additional options and reduce congestion at existing airports,” said an aviation industry expert. Urban transport analysts highlight that expanding NMI’s connectivity supports sustainable urban mobility by optimising air traffic flows and reducing delays. “Diversifying airport operations encourages efficient use of infrastructure, lowers operational emissions, and enhances city-wide mobility,” a senior urban planner noted.
For residents and business travellers, the new flights offer improved accessibility to southern India, while strengthening Navi Mumbai’s profile as a growing aviation hub. With full operational capacity, NMI is expected to become a key corridor for both domestic and international travel, aligning with broader goals of sustainable, inclusive urban development and efficient transport planning. The expansion also underlines the potential for future routes connecting other Indian states, reinforcing NMI’s role in supporting equitable growth and environmentally conscious infrastructure development in the Mumbai metropolitan region.
IndiGo To Begin Daily Flights From Tamil Nadu To Navi Mumbai Airport
