IndiGo Expands Network: Why Tamil Nadu is Key to Navi Mumbai Airport's Launch

The Indian aviation landscape is changing rapidly. IndiGo has launched new daily services. These flights connect Tamil Nadu with the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI). The inaugural flights from Chennai and Coimbatore began on December 29, 2025. This move marks a key expansion for the airline. It also supports the new greenfield airport's initial operations.

NMI opened for commercial operations recently. It aims to ease congestion at Mumbai’s existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). The new IndiGo Navi Mumbai flights offer passengers more travel choices. Mumbai is known for its operationally challenging, high-volume air traffic.

Operational Details and Fleet

IndiGo is deploying its all-economy class Airbus A320 services on these routes. Each aircraft offers 186 seats. The scheduling aligns with NMI’s initial operational phase. During this period, the airport operates for 12 hours daily, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The airport plans to transition to round-the-clock operations by February 2026.

New Flight Schedule

The Chennai Coimbatore direct flights enhance Tamil Nadu air connectivity. The Chennai operations (6E 898/899) are primarily aimed at business traffic. Flight 6E 898 departs Chennai at 6:10 a.m. The return flight, 6E 899, leaves NMI at 7:40 p.m. This timing maximizes the use of the new airport’s limited operating window.

• The Coimbatore flights are numbered 6E 860 and 6E 861.
• Flight 6E 860 departs NMI at 9:00 a.m., arriving in Coimbatore at 10:45 a.m.
• Flight 6E 861 leaves Coimbatore at 11:15 a.m.

Market Competition and Industry Impact

IndiGo is the first airline to begin direct flights to NMI from Tamil Nadu. This gives the carrier a competitive edge. The airline already operates a significant number of flights to Mumbai’s CSMIA. It has nine daily flights from Chennai and three from Coimbatore to the older airport. This dual-airport strategy is key for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

IndiGo’s strategic expansion leverages the new airport's capacity. This helps relieve the high pressure on CSMIA. The move also intensifies competition with rivals like Air India on the crucial Mumbai sector. The new greenfield airport operations are a major step for India's domestic aviation growth. Industry projections indicate a strong growth rate for air travel in India. This makes new infrastructure vital. The new capacity supports the projected demand. This development is critical for commercial aviation news globally. For more information on Indian aviation, visit flying.flights.

The establishment of NMI makes Mumbai the first Indian city with two operational airports. This multi-airport system is designed for scale and resilience. It is crucial for future-proofing the region’s aviation growth. The initial capacity of NMI is 20 million passengers per annum (MPPA). Plans aim to expand this capacity significantly.