As the much-anticipated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) moves closer to its scheduled operational launch in May 2025, global interest in the project is rising. Representatives from various embassies have been visiting the NMIA site in recent days to gather updates on the development, though details remain undisclosed.
UAE Ambassador to India Abdulnaseer Alshali recently visited the project site and shared his appreciation on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Thank you @AdaniOnline for the tour of the Navi #Mumbai Airport. An impressive development that will take aviation in #India to new heights.”
NMIA achieved a major milestone on December 29, 2024, when it successfully conducted its first commercial flight validation test. An Indigo Airlines A320 aircraft landed on Runway 08/26 (Airport Code: NMI) in the presence of senior officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), Customs, Immigration, CISF, CIDCO etc.
“This is a momentous day for Navi Mumbai International Airport. The successful validation flight is a key milestone, bringing us one step closer to operationalisation while ensuring safety at every stage. We are grateful to the DGCA and all agencies involved in making this trial a success,” said Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airport Holdings Limited after the landing of the aircraft.
Bansal further confirmed that commercial operations at NMIA are set to commence in the second week of May, following an official inauguration on April 17. The application for the aerodrome permit is slated for submission on February 6, with approval expected within 70 days.
The airport’s initial terminal has been designed to accommodate up to 20 million passengers annually, with plans for a second terminal set to begin construction in March 2028. Bansal revealed that NMIA aims to start international operations by the end of July 2025, with final connectivity arrangements currently under discussion.
The successful landing of the validation flight establishes the synchronised functioning of Instrument Approach Procedures at NMIA. The DGCA will now assess the collected flight data before granting the essential aerodrome license. Following this, NMIA’s established flight procedures will be published in the Electronic Aeronautical Information Publication (eAIP) for international reference.
Earlier in October 2024, the airport witnessed the inaugural landing of an Indian Air Force C-295 aircraft, marking another significant milestone in its development as a greenfield international airport.
With its world-class infrastructure and strategic planning, NMIA is poised to redefine air travel in India, bolstering Mumbai’s position as a global aviation hub.
