Navi Mumbai International Airport Starts Commercial Operations

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) began its commercial operations on December 25, 2025. It serves as the second aviation gateway to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which had been postponed for more than two decades. The airport is expected to become one of the busiest and most crucial aviation centers in India.

According to Travel and Leisure Asia, the airport, considered one of the largest new airport projects in India, was developed and managed by Adani Airports Holdings Limited. Covering an area of more than 1,160 hectares, NMIA is the second airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and is positioned as a future aviation hub.

Constructed at an estimated cost of around USD 2.2 billion in its first phase, it currently operates with one runway and one terminal, with a capacity of 20 million passengers per year. Upon the full operation of all five phases, it is expected to handle up to 90 million passengers per year, along with a dedicated cargo terminal and logistics infrastructure.

Further connectivity plans for the airport include access via the Mumbai Trans Harbor Link, national highways, suburban railways, and metro corridors. The project is expected to support economic activities throughout Navi Mumbai, as well as Thane, Panvel, Raigad, Pune, and the Konkan region.

Airlines Operating at NMIA

Travelers can avail services from IndiGo, Air India Express, and Akasa Air, connecting Mumbai to 16 major domestic destinations during the initial phase of the airport's opening. In its first month, NMIA will operate from 8 am to 8 pm, accommodating 23 scheduled departures a day and handling up to 10 flight movements per hour.

One of the airlines commencing operations at this airport is IndiGo, with its maiden flight arriving from Bengaluru in the morning of December 25, 2025, shortly followed by its first flight to Hyderabad. Initially, the airline connects NMIA to more than 10 major domestic destinations. The first flight to land at this airport was also an IndiGo flight, with flight number 6E460 from Bengaluru, touching down at 8 am.

Aside from IndiGo, Air India Express also launched services from NMIA, offering direct flights to Bengaluru and Delhi, with its maiden flight from Navi Mumbai to Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, the first flight of Akasa Air arrived at NMIA from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, and its return flight departed for Delhi on the same day. The airline will now operate scheduled services connecting Navi Mumbai to Goa, Delhi, Kochi, and Ahmedabad.

Non-Aeronautical Services

With the opening of Navi Mumbai International Airport, passenger experiences have also evolved with various non-aeronautical services over the first three months. For instance, passenger services from the first day in December include contactless processing supported by Digi Yatra, managed by trained staff across check-in, security, and boarding areas.

On the opening day, NMIA also introduced the Bombay Bond, a food and beverage concept featuring Foo, Bombay Brasserie, Kitab Mahal Charcha, and Bayroute. The airport also launched the Meet & Greet service 'Pranaam', encompassing assistance with pick-up or drop-off, baggage handling, wheelchair support, and personal assistance through retail, dining, and boarding, specifically aimed at elderly and premium passengers.

In January, NMIA will open The Swirl, a transit hotel with 80 rooms located within the terminal. The hotel offers overnight stays and hourly bookings for transit and early departures. Additionally, Tea Khana, a tea-focused destination offering tastings, experiences, and retail sales of premium teas from India and abroad, is also set to be introduced.

Subsequently, in February, the airport plans to launch The Purple Lounge, a celebrity-exclusive lounge with private spaces, personalized services, and customizable menus. For passengers, the opening of NaviVerse, a 1,000 square meter experiential zone located after security checks, awaits. The zone utilizes LED projection and installations to present cultural narratives from Maharashtra and India. Between February and March, NMIA is scheduled to open the Arrival Forecourt, designed for travelers and city visitors.

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