25 December,2025 06:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Several airlines are operating services from the airport as part of the initial phase, officials said. Pic/Special Arrangement
Flight operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) began successfully on Thursday, December 25, 2025, marking a major milestone for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The officials said that on the first day of operations, 15 departure flights were scheduled to various domestic destinations and by January end this would increase to 40.
The first scheduled flight, an early-morning service to Hyderabad, departed at 8.40 am from the newly opened airport.
The launch follows several years of planning, construction and infrastructure development.
Officials said the airport will play an important role in supporting air travel demand in and around Mumbai.
As many as 15 departure flights were scheduled to various domestic destinations on Thursday, officials said, adding that from December 26, 2025, the airport will handle 25 scheduled departure flights daily.
The officials said that they expect this number to rise to 40 departures per day by the end of January 2026, in line with capacity expansion and airline plans.
Several airlines are operating services from the airport as part of the initial phase.
Passengers using the terminal were welcomed by officials from Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL) and airline staff.
All security arrangements were put in place before the start of operations, following guidelines issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to ensure the safety of passengers and airport personnel.
Located in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, the airport has been developed as a second major aviation hub for the Mumbai region.
It is expected to ease congestion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, one of the busiest airports in India.
The project has been developed under a public-private partnership led by Adani Airport Holdings and CIDCO, through Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited.
In its first phase, the airport can handle 20 million passengers annually, with plans for further expansion in the coming years.
The airport has been assigned the IATA code NMI and ICAO code VANM.
The opening of the airport is expected to improve air connectivity across Maharashtra and neighbouring states, reduce travel pressure on Mumbai's existing airport and will support economic growth and tourism in the region, officials said.
