IndiGo Shifts Mumbai Flights Amid Airport Changes

IndiGo is implementing significant changes to its winter flight schedule, including expanding services to Ranchi and Udaipur and increasing frequencies on routes such as Kolkata and Lucknow. The airline will also bolster regional connectivity with ATR turboprop aircraft, adding services to Diu and Belagavi. A major shift involves moving flight capacity from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the new Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) for routes like Chennai, Kochi, and Nagpur. IndiGo anticipates operating approximately 50 daily flights from NMIA, an increase from the current 40. These adjustments aim to balance slots for services returning to CSMIA, particularly as CSMIA's Terminal 1 undergoes renovation. Notably, many routes moved to NMIA will continue to be served from CSMIA, offering passengers more flexibility. However, user development fees differ substantially, with NMIA charging higher fees than CSMIA for both domestic and international departures and arrivals. IndiGo is reportedly experimenting with route additions and removals at NMIA to assess passenger demand. In contrast, IndiGo is reducing its services to China, cutting flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou and Shanghai from seven to four per week.