25 December,2025 11:43 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/Navi Mumbai International Airport
Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) -- India's newest Greenfield airport -- began commercial operations on Thursday (December 25).
The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) began operations, with the first flight from Bengaluru, operated by IndiGo, touching down the runway at 8 am.
The aircraft was accorded a ceremonial water cannon salute on arrival, a time-honoured aviation tradition marking NMIA's first commercial touchdown and departure, the airport operator said in a statement.
The inaugural arrival was followed by the airport's first departure IndiGo flight 6E882 to Hyderabad at 08:40 am, completing NMIA's inaugural arrival and departure cycle, it said.
On the first day, IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air and Star Air will operate domestic services, connecting the new facility to nine destinations across India.
The airport will handle 15 scheduled departures on the first day, it said, adding that during the initial phase, the facility will operate for 12 hours -- between 8 am and 8 pm, with up to 24 scheduled daily departures to 13 destinations and the capability to manage up to 10 aircraft movements (arrivals and departures) per hour, it added.
In the first month, NMIA will operate for 12 hours -- between 08:00 hours and 20:00 hours -- handling 23 scheduled daily departures. During this period, the airport will manage up to 10 flight movements per hour.
IndiGo commenced operations from NMIA and its first flight arrived at NMIA from Bengaluru in the morning, with first departure to Hyderabad shortly thereafter. Initially, IndiGo will be connecting NMIA to over 10 key destinations across the nation.
Air India Express said it inaugurated services from NMIA, with direct flights to Bengaluru and Delhi. The first Air India Express flight from Navi Mumbai International Airport operated to Bengaluru.
Akasa Air's inaugural flight departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and arrived at the Navi Mumbai International Airport. Also, its inaugural flight from NMIA departed and arrived at Delhi Airport. Akasa Air will operate scheduled flights connecting Navi Mumbai with Goa, Delhi, Kochi and Ahmedabad.
NMIA is India's newest Greenfield airport. In the first month, NMIA will operate for 12 hours -- between 08:00 hours and 20:00 hours -- handling 23 scheduled daily departures.
Starting February 2026, the airport will transition to round-the-clock operations, expanding to 34 daily departures to meet the increasing needs of the MMR.
NMIA is conducting comprehensive Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) trials in collaboration with all stakeholders, including security agencies and airline partners.
NMIA is a public private partnership (PPP) between Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), a subsidiary of Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL), which holds the majority stake of 74 per cent, while the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO) holds the remaining 26 per cent.
The inauguration of NMIA by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8 set the stage for a carefully phased operational rollout, prioritising passenger safety, reliability, and comfort from day one.
