Regional carrier Star Air has further strengthened its growing domestic footprint with the launch of a new non stop service between Mumbai and Indore, directly linking India’s financial capital with the commercial heart of Madhya Pradesh in a premium regional jet. The route, inaugurated on February 2, 2026, is being operated with the Embraer E175, positioning the airline as a boutique alternative to larger competitors and underscoring how short haul flying in India is rapidly evolving toward greater comfort, speed, and connectivity.

The new Mumbai–Indore service plugs directly into one of central India’s most important air corridors. Mumbai remains the country’s leading financial and corporate hub, while Indore has emerged as a manufacturing, trading, and services powerhouse, repeatedly recognised as one of India’s cleanest and most livable cities. Until now, this sector has largely been dominated by high frequency narrow body operations from established carriers, with a focus on volume rather than a curated passenger experience.

Star Air’s decision to mount a non stop E175 service on the route reflects both pent up demand and the airline’s ambition to be a serious player in regional business travel. The new flights are scheduled three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, covering the 500 kilometre distance in around one hour and fifteen minutes. An evening departure from Mumbai, arriving in Indore before early evening, has been designed to appeal to corporate travellers looking to connect workdays in both cities, as well as weekend passengers visiting family or leisure destinations across Madhya Pradesh.

The timing of the launch is also significant. The service forms part of a broader February expansion in which the airline is rolling out dozens of new regional routes, many of them linking Tier II and Tier III cities directly to major metros. Within this network, Mumbai–Indore functions as both an end to end business route and a feeder leg that distributes passengers into Star Air’s growing web of central and western Indian destinations.

For travellers in Indore, the new non stop link offers more options for accessing Mumbai’s international long haul network, as well as its financial, entertainment, and healthcare ecosystems. For Mumbai based passengers, the route creates another convenient way to reach central India’s industrial clusters, educational institutions, and heritage destinations without relying solely on larger carriers or circuitous multi stop itineraries.

Embraer E175: Bringing Premium Comfort to Short Haul India

What differentiates this new service from most domestic offerings is Star Air’s choice of aircraft. The Embraer E175 is a modern regional jet widely used in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia for high frequency business routes, but it remains relatively uncommon in India’s largely narrow body and turboprop driven market. By deploying the E175, Star Air is signalling its intent to redefine passenger expectations on sub two hour flights.

The aircraft features a dual class configuration with a dedicated business class cabin and a two by two layout in economy. In both cabins there are no middle seats, a detail that significantly enhances comfort on busy routes. Every passenger has either window or aisle access, along with larger windows and an interior that feels closer to a small mainline jet than a traditional regional aircraft. For corporate travellers who have grown accustomed to tightly packed single aisle jets or turboprops on short sectors, the E175 can feel like a step up in privacy and space.

Cabin design is paired with operational advantages. Regional jets such as the E175 typically offer faster climb and cruise profiles than turboprops, resulting in shorter block times and smoother rides at higher altitudes. On a route like Mumbai–Indore, this translates into a more predictable schedule and reduced susceptibility to certain weather related disruptions, which can be crucial for time sensitive business itineraries. Star Air is positioning this as part of a broader promise of punctuality and a stress free regional travel experience.

The introduction of business class on the sector is another important differentiator. While Mumbai–Indore is already served by full service carriers with premium cabins, Star Air’s boutique scale allows the airline to target a niche of travellers who prioritize personalised service and a quieter cabin over sheer frequency. For corporate contracts, small and medium enterprises, and frequent flyers based in Indore, the E175 product could become an appealing alternative to the busier cabins of larger airlines.

Bolstering Regional Connectivity Under a New Growth Phase

The Mumbai–Indore launch is emblematic of Star Air’s current expansion strategy, which focuses on building a dense mesh of regional links that bypass traditional metro to metro dominance. In recent months, the airline has aggressively entered smaller markets, adding cities such as Gondia, Bhubaneswar, Purnia, Solapur, Surat, Jamnagar, Bhuj, and Bidar to its map through a mix of new services and upgraded frequencies. This momentum accelerated after a successful funding round in late 2025 that has given the carrier room to add aircraft and experiment with new city pairs.

Indore plays a pivotal role in this evolving network. Already well connected to cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Nagpur through multiple carriers, the city is emerging as a secondary hub for central India. By introducing its own non stop service from Mumbai, Star Air is not only tapping into point to point demand but also strengthening the foundations for future through connections across Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states. The carrier’s February schedule includes numerous new or improved routes feeding into larger cities, many of which can interline with the Mumbai–Indore operation on either end.

This approach dovetails with India’s broader policy objective of deepening regional air connectivity, particularly between Tier II and Tier III cities and the nation’s primary economic centres. While the government backed Regional Connectivity Scheme has driven much of the infrastructure and initial capacity into smaller airports, private carriers like Star Air are increasingly taking on the role of fine tuning commercially viable routes and using more sophisticated aircraft to raise the quality of service.

By demonstrating that a premium regional jet can work on a busy but relatively short sector like Mumbai–Indore, Star Air is effectively testing a template that could be replicated on other high potential regional corridors, especially those linking industrial belts and commercial hubs that have historically been underserved by full service carriers.

Reimagining Short Haul Travel Across India

The launch of the Mumbai–Indore non stop service is not just another route announcement; it also reflects evolving passenger expectations on domestic sectors of one to two hours. As disposable incomes rise and more Indians fly for business, education, and leisure, there is growing appetite for services that prioritize comfort, reliability, and a seamless end to end experience, even on short hops.

Traditionally, many travellers have treated short haul domestic flights as commoditised products, choosing almost entirely on price or schedule. However, congestion at major airports, the stress of packed cabins, and the increasing value placed on time and personal comfort are gradually shifting that mindset. Star Air’s E175 operation on the Mumbai–Indore route is tailored to this new reality, where passengers might be willing to pay a modest premium for more legroom, better seating configurations, and a quieter boarding and deplaning process.

The route also reinforces the idea that short haul flying can be aspirational rather than purely functional. For first time flyers from smaller cities connecting through Indore, or for young professionals commuting between central India and Mumbai’s corporate ecosystem, the E175’s interiors and service standards can serve as an introduction to a higher quality of air travel without the price tag of long haul international business class.

In the long term, such experiences can reshape how Indian travellers perceive domestic aviation. If regional jets like the E175 become more common on key routes, passengers may begin to factor product quality and airline reputation more heavily into their booking decisions, driving a gradual but meaningful shift away from purely low cost, high density models on every short sector.

Economic, Tourism, and Lifestyle Benefits for Mumbai and Indore

Beyond aviation metrics, the new non stop link carries clear economic and social significance for both cities. Indore’s industries, which include pharmaceuticals, automotive components, textiles, and information technology services, rely on fast connections to Mumbai’s ports, financial institutions, and corporate headquarters. A premium short haul option can help senior executives, investors, and technical specialists shuttle between offices and plants more efficiently, which in turn can support faster decision making and smoother project execution.

For Indore based startups, consultancies, and professional services firms, improved air access to Mumbai opens doors to new clients, capital, and partnerships. The evening schedule is particularly conducive to same day or overnight business trips, reducing the need for extended stays and making it more practical to maintain cross city engagements without major disruptions to daily operations.

The tourism impact is equally noteworthy. Indore is a gateway to a host of cultural and natural attractions in Madhya Pradesh, from heritage sites and temples to wildlife reserves and hill destinations. Mumbai residents looking for short getaways now have an additional carrier choice with a differentiated onboard product. Conversely, residents of Indore and nearby regions gain easier access to Mumbai’s cultural institutions, entertainment venues, medical facilities, and international onward connections, potentially boosting both leisure and medical tourism flows.

The service also contributes to broader lifestyle integration between central India and the western seaboard. Families spread between the two cities can benefit from more intuitive travel options, while students, professionals, and migrants can maintain closer ties with home through more convenient weekend and holiday journeys.

Competitive Landscape and Passenger Choice on the Mumbai–Indore Sector

The Mumbai–Indore route is already well served by multiple daily flights operated by large carriers using Airbus and Boeing narrow body aircraft. These services, often scheduled at peak business times, compete primarily on frequency and price, with ancillary products such as seat selection and priority boarding layered on top. Star Air enters this market without the advantage of high frequency, but with a differentiated product anchored by the E175 and a hybrid service philosophy between low cost and full service.

This creates a more nuanced competitive environment. Price sensitive passengers will still find plentiful options across carriers, particularly during off peak hours or sale periods. However, segments such as frequent business travellers, small corporate groups, and travellers who value a quieter, less crowded cabin may be drawn to Star Air’s proposition even at a modest fare premium. The presence of a regional jet option may also push other airlines to refresh their offerings on the route, whether through targeted product enhancements, revised timings, or improved loyalty benefits.

From a network standpoint, Star Air’s decision to operate three weekly flights rather than an immediate daily schedule suggests a calibrated approach. The airline can assess load factors, yield trends, and connection patterns over the first months of operation before considering additional frequencies or schedule adjustments. If performance meets expectations, Mumbai–Indore could become a cornerstone route supporting the deployment of additional E175s across the network.

For passengers, the ultimate outcome is greater choice. A mix of high capacity narrow bodies and smaller, premium configured regional jets on the same sector allows travellers to select not just a time and price point, but also a specific style of journey suited to their needs, whether that is a quick business trip, a family visit, or a connecting leg to a more remote destination.

Looking Ahead: What Star Air’s Expansion Signals for India’s Skies

The new non stop Mumbai–Indore service is one piece of a much larger puzzle in India’s aviation story. As the domestic market continues to grow, there is mounting recognition that connectivity cannot be measured only by the number of flights between the largest metros. The real test is how effectively smaller and mid sized cities are woven into the national grid, enabling people and businesses in every region to access opportunities without prohibitive time or cost barriers.

Star Air’s strategy of leveraging regional jets, cultivating niche routes, and offering a more premium experience on short haul sectors illustrates one pathway toward that goal. If the Mumbai–Indore operation proves successful, it could catalyse further investment in similar aircraft types, encourage other carriers to innovate with cabin layouts or service models, and nudge airport operators to refine their facilities for quick turnarounds and high quality regional operations.

For travellers, the message is equally clear. Short haul flights in India are no longer confined to a one size fits all model built solely around minimal fares. With services like Star Air’s Embraer operated Mumbai–Indore link, passengers have increasing power to choose how they want to travel, not just where and when. As more such routes take shape across the country, regional connectivity will not only expand in geographic terms, but also evolve in quality, setting a new benchmark for how India moves between its cities.

In that sense, the new non stop connection between Mumbai and Indore is more than a timetable entry. It is a tangible sign of an aviation market maturing beyond capacity alone, where thoughtful route planning, modern regional aircraft, and traveller centric service combine to redefine what short haul travel can look and feel like across the subcontinent.