Navi Mumbai Airport Flights officially began on Thursday, marking a major boost for India’s aviation infrastructure. The first arrival and departure at Navi Mumbai International Airport received a traditional water cannon salute.
The launch moves Mumbai closer to a multi-airport system. The existing Mumbai International Airport has faced heavy congestion for years. Authorities expect the new airport to ease traffic pressure significantly.
IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air India Express, and Star Air started domestic services from day one. IndiGo’s Bengaluru–Navi Mumbai flight landed first at 8 am. A Hyderabad-bound IndiGo flight departed at 8:40 am as the airport’s first departure.
Navi Mumbai International Airport will initially operate for 12 hours daily, from 8 am to 8 pm. It will handle up to 24 flights per day in the first phase. The airport can manage nearly 10 aircraft movements every hour and connect to 13 destinations.
The greenfield airport was planned in 1997 by CIDCO. Construction gained momentum in 2017 but faced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone in 2018 and inaugurated the airport on October 8 this year.
Developed by Adani Airports Holdings Limited, the project’s first phase cost ₹19,650 crore. The airport spans 1,160 hectares and can handle 20 million passengers annually.
