Airport traffic regulators waives international flight landing charges for one year at Navi Mumbai Airport to boost connectivity

Indigo Airbus 320 aircraft at Navi Mumbai International Airport. File pic

Airport tariff regulator AERA has deferred landing charges for international flights at the Navi Mumbai International Airport for a period of one year.
Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL), in charge of airport operations, had looked for a review in the route eligibility criteria to align the incentive more directly with air traffic development at the newly operational airport.

For short-haul and long-haul international routes connecting the airport, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) has chosen to waive off the aircraft landing charges for a duration of one year. Followed by a 50 per cent reduction in landing fees, according to an official. Followed by a 25 per cent reduction on landing charges for long-haul international services in the third year.

To encourage regular international flight frequencies, there will be a 50 per cent discount for short-haul and 75 per cent for long-haul services in the first year, the official said.
A flight distance of 5,000 kilometres is referred to as short-haul routes, while those above 5,000 km are long-haul routes.

The official further said that there will be a 90 per cent cut on landing charges for international freighter services in the first year and a 50 per cent discount in the second year of services.

AERA, in its order dated September 8, allowed for changes in the Variable Tariff Plan (VTP) for the airport.

"Such modification would provide greater opportunities to the airport operator in facilitating the development of international connectivity while ensuring that the benefit of the incentive is linked to the achievement of the intended traffic and utilisation outcomes," the order said.

With the modification, the eligibility criteria for the landing charge waiver will be applicable for new routes from the Navi Mumbai airport. As for earlier, the criterion was applicable for new routes from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Under the MMR criteria, international routes already operational from the Mumbai airport are excluded from this waiver.

Now, any international route from the Navi Mumbai airport will be eligible for landing charge waiver irrespective of whether a particular route is operational from the Mumbai airport.
Both Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports are part of the Adani group.
The modification to the VTP is aimed at encouraging airlines to introduce and sustain international connectivity from the Navi Mumbai airport, AERA said.

The airport, which was inaugurated on October 8, 2025, started domestic operations on December 25 last year.

International services commenced with an Air India Express flight to Abu Dhabi on July 15.

(With inputs from PTI)