Air India Express will operate the first international service from Navi Mumbai International Airport with a direct flight to Abu Dhabi from 15 July.
The new Navi Mumbai-Abu Dhabi route will make it the first airline to operate international services from Maharashtra’s newest airport.
The route will give travellers across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region a second gateway to the UAE and improve international access from the new airport.
Flights will begin from 15 July with two weekly services on Wednesday and Friday.
From 29 July, the frequency will increase to three weekly flights on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, according to the airline.
The Navi Mumbai-Abu Dhabi flight will depart from Navi Mumbai at 2:55 am and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 4:35 am.
The return flight will depart from Abu Dhabi at 5:45 am and arrive in Navi Mumbai at 10:20 am. All timings are local.
Bookings for the new international service have been opened through the Air India Express website, mobile app and other major booking channels.
With the addition of the Abu Dhabi route, Air India Express will operate 30 weekly flights from Navi Mumbai International Airport, connecting the airport directly with Abu Dhabi, Bengaluru and Delhi.
The launch is an important milestone for Navi Mumbai International Airport, which began domestic commercial operations in December 2025.
The start of international services will expand the airport’s role as a second aviation hub for the Mumbai region.
Air India Express had earlier started domestic operations from Navi Mumbai with services to Bengaluru and Delhi.
The Abu Dhabi route now adds the airport’s first overseas connection and strengthens its international profile.
The new service is also expected to support travel demand between western India and the UAE, especially for business travellers, tourists and the Indian diaspora.
Navi Mumbai International Airport has been developed to ease pressure on Mumbai’s existing airport and add new capacity for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
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