Adding a new aviation gateway to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), developed and operated by Adani Airports on Thursday commenced commercial flight operations making an over-30-year dream and planning a reality.
This greenfield airport, established to take the load off the existing Mumbai airport is being built in phases.
In its initial phase, NMIA is designed to handle 20 million passengers per annum (MPPA), with future expansion planned to scale capacity up to 90 MPPA, supported by dedicated cargo terminals and multimodal connectivity.
The launch positions Mumbai toward a distributed, multi-airport model seen in global city-regions such as London, New York, Moscow, Tokyo and Shanghai.
The opening adds a critical new gateway for a region that has faced sustained congestion for over a decade. Planned as part of a distributed aviation framework, NMIA supports Mumbai’s transition to a multi-airport system aimed at improving capacity, operational resilience and long-term scalability, the airport operator said.
On the first day domestic services were operated by IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air and Star Air, connecting NMIA to nine destinations across India.
NMIA handled 48 flights connecting nine domestic destinations, serving over 4,000 passengers, with peak traffic recorded between 05:00 and 07:00 hours.
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani personally welcomed passengers from the inaugural flight and interacted with airport staff, frontline workers and first-time flyers.
Mr. Adani said, “It’s a proud day for Mumbai and for India. NMIA stands as a promise of what the country can achieve when ambition is guided by purpose and delivered with speed and execution.”
IndiGo was the first airline to touch down at the new airport. The first flight arrived at NMIA from Bengaluru in the morning, while the first departure was to Hyderabad shortly thereafter.
Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo, said, “ Initially, IndiGo will be connecting NMIA to over 10 key destinations across the nation. These newly launched services will support the growth of this brand-new aviation gateway and complement Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.”
Air India Express’s first flight from NMIA was operated to Bengaluru.
Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express (AIX), said, “The start of flights from Navi Mumbai is a milestone for the city and the region. Navi Mumbai is a key pillar of our dual-airport strategy, complementing our services from Mumbai airport, where we operate direct flights to 11 domestic and three international destinations.”
“Being here from day one reflects our confidence in the potential NMIA has – and of the role this airport will play in getting Mumbai back on a rapid growth trajectory. AIX will scale up its operations going forward, offering guests reliable, value-driven connectivity delivered with the warmth of Indian hospitality, supported by a modern fleet,” he added.
Akasa Air which operated scheduled flights connecting Navi Mumbai with several destinations said this station would be one of its key growth pillars for years to come.
The airline’s inaugural flight departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi at 0525hrs and arrived at Navi Mumbai International Airport at 0810hrs.
It will progressively ramp up operations from NMIA, scaling up to 300 domestic and 50 international weekly departures.
As part of its broader network strategy, the airline is also set to ramp up to 10 parking bases by the end of FY2027, with a focused international expansion into key Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets.
Akasa Air’s early presence at NMIA aligns with its long-term approach of building a resilient, reliable and robust network supported by next-generation aviation infrastructure, it said.
Vinay Dube, Founder and CEO, Akasa Air, said, “Airports are not simply points of departure and arrival; they are long-term investments in the country’s economic and social mobility ecosystem.Navi Mumbai International Airport represents a generational expansion of aviation capacity for the MMR, anchored in modern infrastructure and enhanced customer experience.
“The commencement of Akasa Air’s operations from the Navi Mumbai International Airport is a forward-looking move, one that strengthens our ability to serve more passengers while factoring in the flexibility required for decades of growth ahead. With operations from both Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport, we are reinforcing our commitment to Mumbai as a key hub in our network,” he said.
“Enhanced connectivity from the region will strengthen economic linkages, support regional development, and ensure that aviation continues to act as a durable engine of growth for India,” he said.
“Akasa Air will have the largest percentage of its fleet and operations based out of Navi Mumbai International Airport, and we are proud to be early and valuable participants in this landmark development,” he added.
During the initial phase, NMIA will operate between 08:00 hrs and 20:00 hrs, with up to 24 scheduled daily departures to 13 destinations and the capability to manage up to 10 aircraft movements per hour.
From February 2026, operations are planned to progressively scale up to round-the-clock services.
Inspired by the lotus, India’s national flower, the terminal architecture integrates cultural identity with contemporary design and sustainability features.
NMIA is expected to strengthen Mumbai’s role as a global gateway and support long-term economic growth through expanded aviation capacity.
Published – December 25, 2025 07:31 pm IST
