Gautam Adani welcomes passengers as Navi Mumbai Airport begins operations

Pic/PTI

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani personally welcomed passengers on Thursday as Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) commenced its commercial airline operations with the arrival of its first flight, reported news agency ANI.

The first aircraft received a ceremonial water cannon salute on arrival. IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru touched down at 8:00 am and was welcomed with the traditional water salute. This was followed by the airport's first departure - IndiGo flight 6E882 to Hyderabad - which took off at 8:40 am, completing NMIA's inaugural arrival and departure cycle.

Marking another milestone, Akasa Air and Air India Express also inaugurated their services from NMIA on Thursday, becoming among the first carriers to begin commercial operations at the airport. Akasa Air's 31st aircraft operated the airline's inaugural Delhi-NMIA flight, while Air India Express launched direct services to Bengaluru and Delhi.

All about Navi Mumbai International Airport

Navi Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (NMIAL) is the special purpose vehicle responsible for the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of the greenfield international airport project. NMIAL is a public-private partnership between Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), a subsidiary of Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL), which holds a 74 per cent stake, and City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), a Government of Maharashtra undertaking, which holds the remaining 26 per cent.

AAHL is a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, the flagship incubator of the Adani Group.

NMIA (IATA: NMI; ICAO: VANM) is poised to become one of India's busiest and most significant aviation hubs. Strategically located in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, the airport is designed to meet the rapidly growing air traffic demand of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and western India.

Spread over 1,160 hectares (2,866 acres), NMIA is designed to handle up to 90 million passengers per annum upon full completion. The airport will feature two parallel runways, state-of-the-art terminal buildings, and advanced cargo facilities to ensure seamless passenger movement and efficient cargo handling.

Built as a greenfield airport, NMIA incorporates sustainable and eco-friendly infrastructure, including renewable energy use and green building practices. Its fluid, futuristic design is inspired by the lotus, India's national flower.

In its initial phase, NMIA will have the capacity to handle 20 million passengers per annum and 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo annually. With its modern infrastructure, sustainability focus, and strategic location, NMIA is set to emerge as a major gateway to India and a key player in the global aviation sector.

(With inputs from ANI)