Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is strengthening its supporting infrastructure ahead of the Winter 2026-27 aviation schedule by expanding its inflight catering capabilities through TajSATS. The airport said on Tuesday that its dedicated flight kitchen, operated by aviation catering company TajSATS, is prepared to support the expected growth in airline operations and passenger traffic during the winter schedule, which runs from October 25, 2026, to March 27, 2027. The facility is located within the airport premises and is designed to provide airlines with catering support close to their point of departure.

The TajSATS flight kitchen currently serves more than 40 departing flights every day and has the capacity to produce up to 7,500 meals daily. NMIA said the facility can subsequently be expanded to handle production of as many as 15,000 meals a day as airline movements and passenger volumes increase. The scalable capacity is intended to allow the catering operation to respond to changing requirements as more flights are introduced and the airport expands its airline network. The ability to increase meal production without relocating the facility is expected to give carriers greater flexibility in managing their inflight catering requirements.

Subhash Murikenchery, Chief Airport Officer of Navi Mumbai International Airport, said the supporting infrastructure needed to grow alongside the airport’s airline network. He said the TajSATS flight kitchen would provide airlines with flexibility as demand increases while also contributing to the culinary experience for passengers. The airport’s focus on dedicated catering infrastructure reflects the wider operational requirements associated with increasing flight movements. Inflight meal preparation, storage and delivery need to be coordinated closely with aircraft schedules, particularly at an airport handling a growing number of domestic and international services.

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The facility has been equipped with production infrastructure, refrigeration systems and operational processes designed to accommodate fluctuations in airline schedules and meal demand. Its location within the airport precinct is also intended to simplify and speed up the process of delivering prepared meals to departing aircraft. Having catering infrastructure close to aircraft operations can help airlines coordinate meal uplift with flight schedules and reduce the logistical requirements associated with transporting meals from facilities located farther away. The airport said the kitchen has been developed with the flexibility required to support changing operational needs as traffic grows.

NMIA also highlighted the facility’s role in supporting international carriers operating to and from India. The airport said the kitchen provides local meal-uplift capabilities for international airlines, giving carriers another catering option closer to their departure point. According to the airport, approximately 40 per cent of international carriers operating from India rely on back catering from their own flight kitchens. NMIA said its inflight catering infrastructure has been developed to support this requirement while also serving domestic airlines. The availability of a local catering facility could therefore help carriers manage their meal requirements as operations at the new airport expand.

The TajSATS facility will provide catering services to both domestic and international airlines and can accommodate a range of passenger dietary requirements. These include special meals, allergen-sensitive menus and halal meals, allowing carriers to offer different food options based on passenger needs and airline specifications. As NMIA prepares for the Winter 2026-27 schedule, the expansion of inflight catering capacity forms part of the airport’s broader operational infrastructure. With current production capacity of 7,500 meals a day and the ability to scale up to 15,000 meals, the facility is positioned to support additional airline movements and passenger growth while providing carriers with an airport-based catering solution.

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