Commercial Operations Commence at Adani’s Navi Mumbai Airport: First Flight Lands from Bengaluru

Adani Airports’ Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) officially began commercial operations on Thursday, marking a new chapter in India’s aviation sector. The airport, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8, 2025, is set to ease congestion at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and meet the growing passenger demand in the region.

The first arrival at NMIA was IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru, which landed at 8:00 AM and was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute. Shortly thereafter, at 8:40 AM, IndiGo flight 6E882 departed for Hyderabad, completing the airport’s inaugural departure.

Airlines and Routes
Initially, domestic flights will be operated by IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and Star Air. On its first day, NMIA will be connected to nine different cities across India. Air India Express announced direct flights from NMIA to Bengaluru and Delhi. Akasa Air also commenced operations, with its first flight from Delhi arriving at 8:10 AM and departing back to Delhi at 8:50 AM. The airline will also operate flights from NMIA to Goa, Kochi, Delhi, and Ahmedabad, with services gradually expanding between December 25 and December 31.

Operational Details and Capacity
Currently, the airport will operate 12 hours a day, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, handling 24 scheduled flights daily across 13 destinations. NMIA has the capacity to handle 10 aircraft movements per hour.

The first phase of NMIA, completed at a cost of ₹19,650 crore, is part of a five-phase project. Once all phases are operational, the airport is expected to handle up to 9 crore passengers annually, providing crucial infrastructure to support the region’s growing air traffic.

With its launch, Navi Mumbai International Airport is poised to become a major hub, easing congestion at Mumbai’s primary airport and strengthening India’s aviation network.