Qatar Joins UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain in Travel Surge as Air India Express Becomes First Airline to Launch International Flights from Navi Mumbai Airport with Abu Dhabi Service Starting 15 July 2026

Written By: Shraddha Das

Shraddha Das

I am a passionate travel writer at Travel and Tour World (TTW) with two years of experience covering the ever-evolving world of travel, tourism, aviation, and hospitality. She enjoys turning complex industry updates into engaging stories that inspire and inform readers around the globe. With a keen eye for detail and a love for discovering what makes every destination unique, Shraddha is committed to delivering accurate, insightful, and reader-friendly content that connects people with the world of travel.

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June 22, 2026 07:49 GMT+5:30

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A major shift in regional travel connectivity is underway as Air India Express prepares to launch international operations from Navi Mumbai International Airport, marking a key milestone for Maharashtra’s newest aviation hub. The development comes as Qatar joins UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain in a widening travel network linked to India’s expanding Gulf corridor, reflecting strong and sustained passenger demand between South Asia and West Asia. The airline’s upcoming Abu Dhabi service starting 15 July 2026 is positioned as the first international route from the new airport, signaling both strategic expansion and growing importance of Navi Mumbai as a secondary gateway to the Middle East.

Air India Express has confirmed the launch of a new international air link between Navi Mumbai International Airport and Abu Dhabi, marking a significant expansion in India’s aviation connectivity as operations begin from Maharashtra’s newest airport on 15 July 2026. The development positions the carrier as the first airline to introduce international services from the newly developed aviation hub.

The introduction of this route adds a new dimension to travel options for passengers across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, offering a second major gateway to the United Arab Emirates. The move is expected to ease congestion at existing airports while improving access, flexibility, and overall connectivity for both business and leisure travel demand.

The airline has outlined an initial operating schedule of two weekly flights starting mid-July 2026. This frequency is planned to increase to three weekly services from 29 July 2026, reflecting anticipated demand growth on the route. Bookings for the new service are already open through multiple channels, including the airline’s official website, mobile application, and authorized travel partners.

With the commencement of the Abu Dhabi connection, Air India Express will operate a total of 30 weekly flights from Navi Mumbai International Airport. These services will connect the airport to key domestic destinations including Abu Dhabi, Bengaluru, and Delhi, strengthening its role as a developing aviation node in western India.

The airline’s broader network expansion in Maharashtra continues at a steady pace. From the existing Mumbai hub, Air India Express operates more than 95 weekly flights, while Pune accounts for over 100 weekly departures. Nagpur is also part of the network with 14 weekly flights, reinforcing the airline’s multi-city presence across the state.

Beyond domestic expansion, Air India Express maintains a strong international footprint linking India with key markets across West Asia. Its network spans multiple destinations that are central to labour, tourism, and business travel flows between the two regions.

The airline’s West Asia connectivity includes the following destinations:

• Bahrain – A key Gulf financial and labour hub with strong passenger demand from India
• Kuwait – A major destination for expatriate workers and family travel
• Oman – Known for steady bilateral movement in both tourism and employment sectors
• Qatar – A rapidly growing aviation and transit hub in the Gulf region
• Saudi Arabia – One of the largest travel corridors for Indian workers and pilgrims
• United Arab Emirates (UAE) – A central aviation gateway with high-frequency traffic between India and the Gulf

This network reflects Air India Express’s continued focus on strengthening India–West Asia connectivity, one of the busiest international aviation corridors globally. The addition of the Navi Mumbai–Abu Dhabi route further consolidates this strategy by enhancing access from a new, strategically located airport in western India.

The launch also signals the growing importance of Navi Mumbai International Airport as a future aviation hub designed to complement existing infrastructure in the region. Its integration into international operations is expected to gradually redistribute traffic flows from Mumbai while supporting long-term capacity expansion for the region’s air travel demand.

For passengers, the new route introduces improved travel flexibility, particularly for those based in Navi Mumbai, Thane, and surrounding areas, who will now have a more direct and time-efficient option for travel to the UAE. Industry observers view this as part of a broader trend of decentralizing air traffic from saturated metro airports toward newer facilities.

As operations commence, Air India Express is positioning itself to leverage growing demand between India and the Gulf region, supported by a combination of new airport infrastructure, expanding fleet capacity, and a widening international network. The airline’s gradual increase in frequency on the Abu Dhabi route suggests confidence in sustained passenger growth following the initial launch phase.

Air India Express is set to become the first airline to launch international flights from Navi Mumbai International Airport, starting its Abu Dhabi service on 15 July 2026, strengthening connectivity between India and the Gulf region. This expansion comes amid rising travel demand across Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

With this development, Maharashtra’s aviation landscape enters a new phase, where Navi Mumbai International Airport begins its journey as an international gateway, and Air India Express establishes an early leadership position in shaping its connectivity profile.