Mumbai's two airports — BOM vs Navi Mumbai (NMI) flying guide

Flying to Mumbai This Winter: BOM or Navi Mumbai (NMI)?

Published 30 October 2026 · IdeaMytrip Travel Guides

For decades, "flying to Mumbai" meant one airport. Not any more. Mumbai now has two: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) and the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI), which opened in December 2025. Over the coming months, more flights will move between them while BOM's old Terminal 1 is rebuilt.

For corporate travellers and anyone flying in for a wedding, a holiday or a weekend, that means one new habit: check the airport code and terminal on every booking. This guide explains how the two airports differ, what is changing and how to pick the right one for your trip.

Two airports, two codes

Both airports are run by Adani Airport Holdings, but they are separate airports with separate codes. A ticket to BOM will not land you at NMI, and getting from one to the other means a long road transfer. Here is how they compare right now:

What is changing at BOM

BOM's Terminal 1 is due for a long-planned rebuild that will raise its capacity from about 15 million to 20 million passengers a year. To make room, the airport operator announced in early October that Terminal 1 would stop operating from 25 October, with airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, Alliance Air, Akasa Air and Star Air moving to Terminal 2 or to Navi Mumbai. Akasa Air had already begun shifting to T2.

The plan has changed more than once. A proposal to move a large share of international flights from T2 to Navi Mumbai from 25 October was put on hold after airlines objected, and that shift is now expected from the summer schedule starting in late March 2027. The winter schedule itself runs from 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027.

The bottom line: even if you fly to Mumbai often, do not assume your usual terminal. Check every booking.

Flight moves already announced

On 25 October, IndiGo and the Air India Group agreed to move some flights to Navi Mumbai in phases. Final dates have not all been set, but this is the plan so far:

If you are booking a domestic trip to Mumbai for December or later, especially on Air India Express or IndiGo, look closely at whether the flight is to BOM or NMI before you pay.

How to choose the right airport

On most domestic routes you will have a choice. A few simple rules help:

• Start from your final address, not the fare. A cheaper flight into the "wrong" airport can cost you more in cab fares and lost hours. Meetings in Nariman Point, BKC or Andheri usually point to BOM; Vashi, Belapur, Kharghar and Panvel usually point to NMI.
• Plan the road leg. There is no direct metro to NMI yet. Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1 (CBD Belapur–Pendhar) does not reach the terminal, so the last stretch is by road. Use live navigation and allow for traffic.
• Check connections carefully. If you are connecting to an international flight, make sure both legs use the same airport. Moving between BOM and NMI on a tight connection is risky.
• Match the return. It is fine to arrive at one airport and leave from the other — just make sure your hotel, cab and calendar know which.

Business travel tip: For a one-day trip, the airport closest to your meeting usually beats the cheapest fare. For an early-morning departure from NMI, the 80-room Swirl Transit Hotel on the airport's arrivals level saves you a pre-dawn drive.

Know NMI before you go

Navi Mumbai's terminal is new, so the basics are modern. All scheduled passenger flights currently use Terminal 1. Facilities include Wi-Fi, DigiYatra, self-baggage drop, special assistance, ATMs and a pharmacy. The Adani Silver Lounge is on Level 3 in the domestic departures area.

Recommended reporting times are at least two to three hours before a domestic flight and four hours before an international one, or whatever your airline advises.

Your Mumbai airport checklist

• Check the airport code on your ticket: BOM or NMI.
• At BOM, confirm whether you are flying from Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 — and reconfirm on the day.
• Watch your email and SMS for airline notices about airport or terminal changes.
• Set up DigiYatra before you fly; it works at NMI too.
• Complete web check-in as soon as it opens.
• Plan your road transfer with live traffic, and add a buffer for evening peaks.
• Tell your hotel or driver which airport you are landing at.