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Navi Mumbai International Airport has started commercial operations, nearly three decades after it was conceived to decongest Mumbai's existing airport. The launch marks a major addition to the city's aviation infrastructure, enabling Mumbai to move towards a multi-airport system. Airlines including IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air and Star Air have begun services, connecting several domestic destinations. Initially operating for limited hours, the airport is expected to scale up to round-the-clock operations, easing congestion and supporting long-term growth in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Nearly three decades after it was first planned to ease congestion at Mumbai's existing airport, the greenfield Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has begun commercial operations. The airport became operational when an IndiGo Airbus A320 from Bengaluru landed in the morning, marking the start of scheduled services. Advertisement
The launch expands Mumbai's aviation capacity at a time when passenger traffic has been stretching the limits of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). With NMIA now functional, Mumbai has moved towards a multi-airport system similar to global cities such as London, New York, Tokyo and Shanghai, which rely on more than one airport to manage demand.
The first arrival was followed shortly by the inaugural departure, an IndiGo flight to Hyderabad, completing the airport's first operational cycle. Airport officials said this signalled the beginning of a scalable and resilient aviation framework for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani welcomed passengers from the first flight and interacted with airport staff, frontline workers and first-time flyers. He said the opening reflected India's ability to execute large infrastructure projects with purpose and speed, and described the airport as an important milestone for both Mumbai and the country.
Among the first passengers was a Bengaluru-based traveller who had booked the inaugural flight specially, along with his young daughter, who became the first passenger to disembark and received a commemorative aircraft model. The event also included a ceremonial walk through the terminal with employees and community representatives, followed by a flag-hoisting ceremony led by Param Vir Chakra awardees.
On the first day of operations, IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air and regional carrier Star Air together operated 48 flights, connecting nine domestic destinations and carrying over 4,000 passengers. Peak traffic was recorded in the early morning hours, indicating strong initial demand and operational readiness.
During the initial phase, NMIA will operate for 12 hours a day, with services scheduled between morning and evening. The airport is handling up to 24 daily departures to 13 destinations and can manage up to 10 aircraft movements per hour. From February next year, operations are planned to gradually scale up to 24-hour services.
Special chartered flights were arranged to give farmers, underprivileged families and people with disabilities their first experience of air travel. India Post also released a commemorative First Flight Carried Special Cover featuring the NMIA terminal, which was flown on an IndiGo service to Goa.
Jeet Adani, Director at Adani Airport Holdings Limited, said NMIA strengthens the region's multi-airport system by adding capacity, improving passenger experience and supporting long-term aviation growth. IndiGo confirmed it will initially connect NMIA with 13 domestic cities, including Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, Jaipur, Goa (Mopa) and Kochi.
The airport is being developed in multiple phases through Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd, a special purpose vehicle in which the Adani Group holds a 74 per cent stake, while CIDCO owns the remaining 26 per cent. Air India Express has also started operations from NMIA, positioning the airport as a key part of its dual-airport strategy alongside CSMIA.
Airport officials said the opening provides a critical new gateway for a region that has faced prolonged congestion for more than a decade and supports Mumbai's shift towards a distributed aviation network focused on capacity expansion and long-term resilience.
Source PTI
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