In a landmark moment for Indian aviation, the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) commenced commercial operations on Thursday, December 25, 2025. The opening marks the fulfillment of a 30-year-old dream, officially making Mumbai the first city in India to operate a “twin-airport” system.
The Historic First Touchdown
The Christmas morning fog didn’t dampen the spirits at the new lotus-inspired terminal as the airport recorded its first movements:
- The First Arrival: An IndiGo flight (6E 460) from Bengaluru touched down at exactly 8:00 AM, greeted by a ceremonial water cannon salute.
- The First Departure: Shortly after, an IndiGo flight (6E 882) to Hyderabad took off at 8:40 AM, marking the official start of departure services.
- Day One Scale: On its opening day, the airport handled 48 flights (arrivals and departures) connecting nine domestic destinations and serving over 4,000 passengers.
Political and Commercial Milestone
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu hailed the opening as a “historic moment,” crediting the “double-engine” NDA government’s synergy for completing the project.
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, whose company Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL) operates the facility, shared a heartfelt note on X (formerly Twitter). He described the opening as a “deeply moving moment,” specifically honoring the “quiet architects”—the workers, farmers, and specially-abled colleagues—who helped build the greenfield project.
NMIA: Facts & Future Capacity
The airport is designed to ease the extreme congestion at the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
| Feature | Phase 1 (Current) | Final Phase (Projected) |
| Annual Passenger Capacity | 20 Million | 90 Million |
| Cargo Capacity | 0.5 Million Tonnes | 3.25 Million Tonnes |
| Daily Operations | 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM | 24/7 Operations (by Feb 2026) |
| Number of Runways | 1 | 2 |
Airlines and Destinations
Four major airlines have already begun operations from NMIA:
- IndiGo: Connecting Navi Mumbai to 13 cities, including Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Jaipur.
- Akasa Air: Services to Goa, Delhi, Kochi, and Ahmedabad.
- Air India Express: Direct flights to Delhi and Bengaluru.
- Star Air: Regional connectivity, including a unique link to Nanded.
Traveler Advisory: Access Challenges
While the terminal is world-class and Digi Yatra-enabled, commuters are advised that some surrounding infrastructure is still under construction.
- Roads: The Ulwe coastal road linking the airport to the Atal Setu (MTHL) is partially complete; current access is primarily via existing arterial roads.
- Rail: The nearest station is Targhar (3.2 km away), served by NMMT shuttle buses.