Air India Express will become the first airline to operate international flights from Navi Mumbai International Airport when it launches direct services to Abu Dhabi on 15 July 2026.
The new route marks a significant milestone for Maharashtra’s newest airport, which opened in late 2025 as a second gateway serving the Mumbai metropolitan region.
The airline says the service will strengthen connectivity between western India and the United Arab Emirates while supporting the continued growth of Navi Mumbai Airport.
First International Route For Navi Mumbai
The Abu Dhabi service will make Air India Express the first carrier to launch scheduled international operations from :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.
Flights will initially operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays from 15 July 2026.
From 29 July, a third weekly flight on Sundays will be added in response to expected demand.
The route will be operated using Boeing 737 aircraft.
Flight Schedule
The outbound service will depart :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} at 05:45 and arrive in Navi Mumbai at 10:20 local time.
The return flight will leave Navi Mumbai at 02:55 and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 04:35.
Flight time is approximately three hours and 20 minutes, providing a fast connection between the UAE capital and India’s financial hub.
One-way fares from Navi Mumbai are expected to start from around AED600 (US$162).
Growing Network From Navi Mumbai
With the launch of the Abu Dhabi route, Air India Express will operate 30 weekly services from Navi Mumbai Airport.
The carrier already serves domestic destinations including :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} and :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3} from the airport.
The addition of Abu Dhabi expands the airport’s network beyond India for the first time and provides travelers with direct access to one of the Gulf region’s most important aviation hubs.
Strengthening Presence In Maharashtra
The new service further expands Air India Express’ operations across Maharashtra.
The airline currently operates more than 95 weekly flights from Mumbai, over 100 weekly services from Pune and 14 weekly flights from Nagpur.
By adding Abu Dhabi flights from Navi Mumbai, the carrier is positioning itself to benefit from growing demand for travel between India and the Gulf while supporting the development of the region’s newest international airport.
