PM Modi Inaugurates Navi Mumbai International Airport’s First Phase
The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), a project two decades in the making, has reached a key milestone with the inauguration of its first phase by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ceremony was also attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar.
The first phase includes Terminal 1 and Runway 1, featuring 10 bus gates and 29 aero bridges. While inaugurated, flight operations will begin later. According to Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airports Holdings Ltd—the developer and operator—security checks by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), along with customs and immigration mobilisation and end-to-end testing, are expected to take 45–60 days. Commercial flights are anticipated to begin in December 2025.
Airline Plans
Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air will be among the first carriers to operate from NMIA.
Air India plans 20 daily departures via Air India Express in the first phase, scaling to 55 daily departures by mid-2026.
IndiGo intends to start with 18 daily flights and expand to 140 within 18 months, including 30 international flights.
Akasa Air will begin with 15 daily domestic flights, later increasing to over 300 domestic and 50 international flights per week.
All three airlines are expected to commence operations on Day 1, depending on slot allocations.
Operational Timeline
Initially, NMIA will function between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., handling 10 air traffic movements (ATMs) per hour. Over time, this window and capacity will increase. Airlines will announce routes and ticket sales in the coming weeks.
Strategic Role
NMIA is designed to complement Mumbai’s existing airport, positioning the city among major global dual-airport hubs such as London, Dubai, and New York. Both domestic and international flights are planned from the outset.
To attract international airlines, NMIA will waive parking fees for the first year. According to Bansal and Captain B V J K Sharma, the airport aims to strengthen Mumbai’s connectivity, especially with Europe and the US, and reclaim a stronger position on global aviation routes.
Future Expansion
In the long term, NMIA will include four terminals and two parallel runways, with the capacity to handle up to 90 million passengers annually. It aims to serve as a key transfer hub between Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.
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