Gulf carriers and Navi Mumbai airport launch flurry of new international routes
A week of route launches from Sharjah to Rome, Accra, Deir Ezzor and Oran, plus the first international flight from India's newest airport, extends air links across three continents.
On 15 July, Navi Mumbai International Airport handled its first scheduled international service, an Air India Express flight to Abu Dhabi, less than 200 days after domestic operations began. The same week, Air Arabia started five weekly Sharjah-Rome flights, Emirates added four weekly Accra services, Jazeera Airways announced twice-weekly Kuwait-Deir Ezzor flights from 8 August, and Saudia inaugurated a direct Oran-Jeddah/Medina link. Collectively, the launches add thousands of seats and new city pairs spanning Europe, West Africa, the Levant and South Asia.
The expansions are being driven by new airport capacity, fleet deployment and evolving payment models. Navi Mumbai airport, a joint venture between Adani Group and Maharashtra’s CIDCO, now handles 150 daily movements and connects 46 domestic destinations; its international debut opens a second gateway for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Air Arabia is using A320neo aircraft on Rome, while Emirates deploys 777-300ERs on Accra. Separately, Emirates introduced an equated monthly instalment option for Indian travellers, allowing fares to be split over three to 36 months via partner banks, and Abu Dhabi’s real estate authorities are backing a “Rent Now, Pay Monthly” platform that lets tenants pay annual rent in monthly instalments, with a pilot set for the fourth quarter of 2026.
For Gulf carriers, the routes deepen existing markets: Italy becomes Air Arabia’s second Italian destination, Ghana has been in Emirates’ network since 2004, and Jazeera now serves three Syrian cities, having carried more than 100,000 passengers since resuming flights last year. Airport authorities in Sharjah, Rome, Accra and Oran have welcomed the added connectivity. Rome Fiumicino’s chief aviation officer noted the Arabian Peninsula market surpassed 2 million passengers in 2025, a 5 per cent increase on 2024. In India, the Navi Mumbai launch is viewed as critical to relieving congestion at Mumbai’s main airport and supporting time-sensitive exports, with the inaugural flight carrying the airport’s first international perishable cargo shipment.
Navi Mumbai airport has stated the Abu Dhabi service is the first of several planned international routes, with additional airlines and destinations expected. Jazeera will increase Damascus frequencies to four daily flights. The Abu Dhabi rental platform’s pilot will onboard the first tenants and landlords in the final quarter of 2026, applying a facilitation fee of 4.75 to 12 per cent of annual rent. These moves point to a period of intensified competition and product differentiation as carriers and property platforms target price-sensitive demand.
| Arab Gulf press | +0.90 | aligned |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-Saharan African press | +0.50 | aligned |
| Indian & South Asian press | +0.70 | aligned |
| Arab Levant-Maghreb press | +0.80 | aligned |
We, Gulf carriers, are expanding our network to Europe, Africa, and the Levant, offering affordable and frequent flights that boost connectivity and tourism.
By emphasizing numerical growth and customer satisfaction, the narrative creates an impression of inevitable success and market leadership.
The Gulf bloc omits any mention of Emirates' expansion into Ghana (present in the African bloc) or the Indian perspective on Navi Mumbai, focusing solely on its own carriers.
The arrival of Emirates flight EK789 in Accra marks a new phase of growth for Ghana, responding to increasing travel demand and offering more options for passengers.
By presenting frequency increases and arrival times as a direct response to demand, the narrative naturalizes the expansion as market-driven rather than strategic.
The African bloc omits any mention of the Gulf carriers' broader network expansion into Europe and India, focusing only on the Ghana route.
Navi Mumbai Airport has launched its first international flight to Abu Dhabi, a milestone achieved through coordinated efforts of government agencies and airlines, enhancing connectivity for the Mumbai region.
By highlighting the collaborative process and the 'first' nature of the flight, the narrative constructs the event as a national achievement and a sign of progress.
The Indian bloc omits any mention of the Gulf carriers' own expansion into Europe and Africa, focusing solely on the Indian airport's debut.
Saudia has inaugurated a direct flight to Oran, marking a new era for Algerian travelers to Saudi Arabia, facilitating pilgrimages and business ties.
By using language of 'first time' and 'new era', the narrative creates a sense of historical event and progress, downplaying the routine nature of route launches.
The Levant-Maghreb bloc omits any mention of the Gulf carriers' expansion into other regions like Europe or India, focusing solely on the Algeria-Saudi link.
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