Navi Mumbai International Airport: Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is going to start operations from 25 December 2025. Earlier on 29th and 30th November, it had successfully passed the Passenger Simulation Test milestone. The airport’s Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) team successfully completed the first full-scale integrated passenger trial on 29 and 30 November 2025.

Every process is closely monitored

In this trial which lasted for two days, hundreds of volunteers were made passengers and went through all the major procedures of the airport, which included check-in, security check, boarding and baggage reclaim. All these were closely monitored so that the smooth functioning of the systems and processes could be evaluated. Airlines like Indigo, Akasa and Air India Express also participated in the trial.

Why was this trial necessary?

Airport officials said that the purpose of this large-scale trial was to ensure that NMIA can provide uninterrupted and efficient services to passengers from the day of its inauguration. The team completed the trial as if everything was happening in reality. Apart from this, possible challenges were identified and work was also done on their solutions. With the success of the full-scale passenger trial, the airport has reached its final stage and now the curiosity about its inauguration on 25th December has increased even more.

What is the specialty of the airport?

Mumbai’s air connectivity is expected to get a boost with the operationalization of Navi Mumbai International Airport. This airport is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, security systems and passenger amenities. This airport is built in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, about 37 kilometers from South Mumbai. This green field airport is spread over 10,660 hectares. It has been built under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, in which Adani Airport Holding Limited has 74 percent stake and CIDCO has 26 percent stake.

Also read:

Will Trump really reduce the tariff on India to 20 percent? Brokerage made predictions

Navi Mumbai International Airport: Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is going to start operating commercial aircraft from December 25. In the initial phase, 23 flights will be operated throughout the day. In the first month, the airport will operate for a total of 12 hours from 8 am to 8 pm. During this period the airport will be able to handle a maximum of 10 flight movements per hour.

The airport has been developed by Navi Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (NMIAL), a special unit jointly owned by Adani Group and Maharashtra Municipal and Industrial Development Corporation Limited (CIDCO).

First flight at Navi Mumbai International Airport

Navi Mumbai International Airport is going to become one of the busiest and important aviation hubs of the country. Located in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, this airport is strategically built to meet the rapidly growing air travel demands of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Western India.

Spread over 1,160 hectares (2,866 acres), the airport will be able to handle 90 million passengers per annum (MPPA) after complete construction. It will have two parallel runways, modern terminal buildings and advanced cargo facilities, which will make passenger experience smoother and cargo handling more efficient.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport on 8 October. In the initial phase, this airport will operate 12 hours a day (08:00 am to 20:00 pm) for the first month. This includes 23 scheduled daily flights and up to 10 flight movements per hour.

The first commercial flight to arrive at NMIA after the inauguration will be IndiGo flight 6E460 (from Bengaluru), which will land at 8:00 am on 25 December. The first departing flight will be IndiGo 6E882, which will depart for Hyderabad at 8:40 am.

NMIA is being developed as a greenfield airport, incorporating eco-friendly infrastructure, use of renewable energy and green building principles. Its fluid and futuristic design represents the national flower of India. Lotus Inspired by.

Airlines and Routes

In the initial operations, airlines like IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa Air will connect Mumbai to 16 major domestic destinations. The airport will start operating 24×7 from February 2026, and daily flight departures will be increased to 34.

To strengthen the security arrangements, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was formally deployed at NMIA on 29 October 2025. When fully developed, NMIA is designed to handle 90 million passengers per annum (MPPA), while in the initial phase it will handle 20 MPPA and 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo.

Navi Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (NMIAL) is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up to develop, construct, operate and maintain a greenfield international airport project in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. NMIAL is based on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, in which Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) – a subsidiary of Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL) – holds a 74% stake. Whereas CIDCO, a Maharashtra government undertaking, has 26% stake. AAHL is a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited, the flagship company of the Adani Group.

Also read: Adani Enterprises announced mega rights issue of Rs 25000 crore, know the record date and how to apply?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Wednesday (8 October 2025). The first phase of this airport has been constructed at a cost of Rs 19,650 crore. It is India’s largest ‘greenfield’ airport project developed under Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

As the second international airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, NMIA will work in collaboration with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to reduce congestion and bring Mumbai into the category of global multi-airport system.

• When will the flights start? Aircraft operations from Navi Mumbai airport are scheduled to start in December 2025.
• When can I buy tickets? Ticket sales are likely to start by the end of October. IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India Express planes will also fly from here.
• What are the digital features of Navi Mumbai Airport? India’s first fully digital airport means facilities for pre-booking of vehicle parking slots, online baggage drop booking and immigration services. According to Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL), which manages this airport, you will get a message on your phone telling you what number your bag is on the carousel.

#WATCH Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra | Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Phase 1 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, built at a cost of around Rs 19,650 crore.

(Source: DD News) pic.twitter.com/6kSxFSHNgB

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2025

Navi Mumbai airport will be equipped with all facilities

The airport is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for both domestic and international passengers. It includes a 3,700 meter long runway, modern passenger terminal and advanced air traffic control system to handle large commercial aircraft.

The airport is 14 km from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) port, 22 km from Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Taloja Industrial Area, 35 km from Mumbai Port Trust (via Mumbai Trans Harbor Link), 32 km from Thane and 40 km from the powerloom city of Bhiwandi.

Also read: Pakistan will buy AMRAAM missile from America, how will it stand in front of India’s HAMMER and SCALP? Read Comparison