INDIA. Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) will begin commercial operations on 25 December, following its inauguration on 8 October by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
One of India’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, NMIA has been developed as a public-private partnership between Mumbai International Airport Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Airport Holdings Limited, and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO).
The launch will add capacity to the growing aviation needs of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, said the airport company in a statement.
In the first month, NMIA will operate for 12 hours between 0800 and 2000, handling 23 scheduled daily departures. During this period, the airport will manage up to ten flights per hour.
The inaugural flight to arrive will be IndiGo 6E460 from Bengaluru, scheduled to touchdown at 0800. Shortly after, IndiGo 6E882 will depart for Hyderabad, marking the first outbound service from the new airport. During the initial launch period, passengers will benefit from services operated by IndiGo, Air India Express, and Akasa Air, connecting Mumbai to 16 major domestic destinations.
Starting next February, the airport will transition to round-the-clock operations, expanding to 34 daily departures.
NMIA is conducting comprehensive Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) trials in collaboration with all stakeholders, including security agencies and airline partners.
In its initial two phases, NMIA will operate with a single runway and terminal. Eventually, the airport will expand to four runways and multiple terminals, including a dedicated cargo facility with advanced infrastructure for perishables and express shipments, supporting India’s trade and logistics network. ✈
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