In a historic move that shifts the centre of gravity for Indian aviation, the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) officially commenced commercial flight operations on Thursday (Dec 25). The opening of this mega-greenfield project marks Mumbai as the first city in India to operate two major international airports, providing much-needed relief to the heavily congested Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
The day began at 8 am with the touchdown of the first commercial flight—an IndiGo service from Bengaluru. The aircraft was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute on the tarmac, a ceremony witnessed by top officials and early morning travelers. Shortly after, at 8.40 am, the airport’s first departure took flight to Hyderabad, completing the inaugural operational cycle.
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani was present to welcome the first passengers personally. In a deeply symbolic gesture, the launch was also attended by Param Vir Chakra awardees Captain Bana Singh and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar, along with local farmers and workers who contributed to the construction.
Initially, the airport will handle domestic flights operated by IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and Star Air, connecting Navi Mumbai to nine domestic destinations. On its first day, the facility managed 30 air traffic movements (ATMs). Operations are expected to scale up to 40 daily departures by the end of January 2026, with round-the-clock services planned to begin in February.
Built at an estimated cost of Rs 19,650 crore for its first phase, the airport features a lotus-inspired terminal design, blending modern sustainability with Indian cultural heritage. As a strategic multimodal hub, NMIA is linked via the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) and is expected to eventually handle 90 million passengers annually once all phases are complete.
The launch not only promises to reduce air ticket prices due to increased capacity but also serves as a massive economic engine for the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
