Summary:
- Navi Mumbai International Airport began commercial operations on Dec. 25.
- The airport served more than 4,000 passengers on 48 flights on its first day.
- NMIAL is developing the project in phases, with the Adani Group holding a 74 percent stake.
NAVI MUMBAI INTERNATIONAL Airport began commercial operations on Dec. 25, expanding Mumbai’s aviation network and India’s infrastructure. NMIA is one of India’s largest greenfield airport projects.
The new airport is developed and operated by Adani Airports Holdings Ltd., a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd. Gautam Adani, Adani's chairman, welcomed passengers from the inaugural IndiGo flight as the airport served more than 4,000 passengers on its first day, highlighting the Group’s record in large-scale infrastructure delivery, Adani said in a statement.
NMIA operated 48 scheduled flights to nine domestic destinations, with peak activity between 5 and 7 a.m., reflecting early demand.
Adani met airport staff, frontline workers, and first-time flyers, then joined a ceremonial walk through the terminal with employees, community members, and Adani Foundation beneficiaries. The ceremony ended with a flag-hoisting by Param Vir Chakra awardees Captain Bana Singh and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar, followed by the national anthem. Athletes Suryakumar Yadav, Mithali Raj, and Sunil Chhetri, along with social influencers, attended the event.
Adani said that welcoming NMIA's first passengers with the Param Vir Chakra awardees offered a glimpse of India taking shape. Standing with workers, farmers, social workers and colleagues, he said it captures "the spirit of a nation moving forward with confidence and compassion."
"NMIA stands as a promise of what the country can achieve when ambition is guided by purpose and delivered with speed and execution,” he said.
He also said that the milestone represents India’s progress toward an inclusive, confident future.
“NMIA is a proud day for Mumbai and for India,” Adani said. “It symbolises what can be achieved when ambition is guided by purpose and executed with precision.”
The project is being developed in phases under a special purpose vehicle, Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd., with a 74 percent stake held by the Adani Group and 26 percent by City and Industrial Development Corp. of Maharashtra Ltd.
During the initial phase, the airport will operate 12 hours a day, with up to 24 scheduled departures to 13 destinations and the capacity for 10 aircraft movements per hour. Operations are planned to scale up to round-the-clock from February next year.
Farmers, underprivileged families and people with disabilities experienced their first flights through a special chartered aerial tour of Mumbai. India Post released a commemorative First Flight Carried Special Cover, featuring the NMIA terminal, flown on an IndiGo service to Goa.
Jeet Adani, Adani Airport Holdings’ director, said NMIA establishes a resilient multiairport system for the MMR, boosting capacity, enhancing passenger experience, and future-proofing the region's aviation growth.
IndiGo will initially connect NMIA to 13 domestic destinations, while Air India Express commenced operations to Bengaluru and Delhi, according to Economic Times
On the eve of operations, a drone display featuring 1,515 synchronized drones showcased sustainability themes and the airport’s lotus design, celebrating India’s new aviation gateway.
Adani Group plans to enter India’s hotel industry with more than 60 properties linked to its airports and real estate projects, partnering with international operators to diversify revenue and compete with established players.
