Navi Mumbai International Airport: 10 things to know about India’s newest aviation hub
The ₹19,650-crore Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) can handle two crore passengers in first phase. The first flight is scheduled for December 2025.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport, bringing Mumbai on a par with the likes of New York to London and Tokyo as metropolitan areas with at least two airports.
“Mumbai's long wait [for a second international airport] has ended,” PM Modi said at the inauguration in the presence of Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Airports Ltd. that has built the aviation hub. “The Navi Mumbai International Airport and underground metro are set to transform travel and connectivity in Mumbai.”
The NMIA is seen as a milestone in India’s aviation infrastructure, promising to transform air connectivity for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and relieve congestion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Andheri. For the Adani Group, NMIA cements its position as India’s largest private airport operator. For Maharashtra, it signals the rise of Navi Mumbai as the region’s next economic engine.
“This airport is more than a building of steel and glass—it is a gateway to the aspirations of a new India,” PM Modi said.
1. History and future timeline
Proposed in 1997, the Navi Mumbai airport faced years of delays due to land acquisition and environmental clearances. The Adani Group formally took over the project in July 2021 after acquiring GVK’s airport assets.
Construction began in 2022, with trial operations likely by late 2025.
The first phase of the NMIA, which PM Modi inaugurated on Wednesday, was built at a cost of ₹19,650 crore. While the Navi Mumbai airport can handle 2 crore passengers immediately, the capacity will eventually increase to 9 crore upon completion. By 2032, NMIA is expected to have four runways and three interconnected terminals.
2. Commercial operations from December 2025
While the airport has been inaugurated, commercial operations will begin only after a series of mandatory safety and regulatory clearances.
Officials from Adani Airports Holdings Ltd. said it will take around 30-45 days for final security checks and another 45-60 days for systems integration and trial runs.
The first commercial flight is expected to take off in December 2025, initially handling domestic routes before scaling up to international operations.
3. One of the largest airports in Asia
In its first phase, the airport will operate one runway and one terminal, with the capacity to handle 2 crore passengers annually.
Future expansions will add more terminals and runways, ultimately enabling NMIA to handle up to 9 crore passengers and 3.25 million tonnes of cargo per year—making it one of the largest airports in Asia.
4. India’s largest greenfield airport project
Built on 1,160 hectares in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, the project is being developed as India’s largest greenfield airport under a public-private partnership model between the Adani Group (74%) and CIDCO (26%).
The special purpose vehicle, Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (NMIAL), will operate and maintain the facility.
5. Lotus-inspired design and digital architecture
The airport’s design by Zaha Hadid Architects draws inspiration from lotus flower—a motif that runs through its roof structure, facade, and interior design.
NMIA will also be India’s first fully digital airport, featuring biometric e-gates, facial recognition boarding, smart baggage handling, and automated passenger processing. Around 47 MW of solar power will meet its energy needs, alongside electric-vehicle services and water-recycling systems.
6. Airlines, routes and flights
At launch, the Navi Mumbai airport is expected to host 50-60 flights a day, including operations by IndiGo and Akasa Air. IndiGo has lined up around 18 departures and 18 arrivals to about 15 domestic cities in Phase 1, with plans to start international routes in early 2026.
Over time, NMIA will complement CSMIA by handling low-cost, regional, and point-to-point traffic, while the Andheri airport focuses on premium and long-haul routes.
7. Dual-airport model for Mumbai
The commissioning of NMIA makes Mumbai the first major metro city in India to have two operational international airports.
CSMIA currently handles over 5 crore passengers annually and is near saturation. The second airport is expected to cut congestion by 30-40%, reduce flight delays, and create new aviation corridors across western India.
8. Regional and economic impact
The airport is expected to be a catalyst for growth across the Navi Mumbai-Panvel-Raigad corridor. Analysts expect rapid expansion in logistics, hospitality, and housing projects around Ulwe, Kharghar, and Dronagiri.
Real estate developers have already reported a 15-20% surge in demand in these areas since the inauguration date was announced. The project is also expected to generate over 150,000 direct and indirect jobs once fully operational.
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9. Safety and environmental measures
Authorities are addressing concerns raised by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation regarding bird hits. A Wildlife Hazard Assessment Survey is under way, along with new waste management protocols and regular inspections under an Aerodrome Environment Management Committee.
The project also includes large-scale mangrove replantation and drainage management to prevent flooding in the Ulwe and Panvel areas.
10. A symbol of New India’s ambition
PM Modi described the lotus-inspired design of NMIA as “a reflection of India’s culture, heritage, and modern ambition”. The project, according to him, embodies the government’s focus on infrastructure and growth, and hailed it as a key step toward turning Mumbai into a global aviation hub comparable to London and New York.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in his speech, paid tribute to the late D.B. Patil, after whom the airport has been officially named, calling it a “people’s airport built with local participation”.
Gautam Adani said that the project demonstrated India’s ability to execute world-class infrastructure with speed and scale.
