NMIA is one of India’s largest greenfield international airports under development, with a capacity to handle 90 million passengers and 2.5 million tonnes of cargo annually. |
Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) will be inaugurated on April 17, 2025 and the airport will start operations from the second week of May, 2025m, said Arun Bansal, Group CEO of Adani Airports Holding Ltd (AAHL), on Sunday afternoon. Bansal was speaking to journalists at the first landing at the airport by a commercial aircraft.
The Indigo A320 aircraft, which landed at the airport at 1.38pm, had taken off from Mumbai, making it possibly the shortest flight ever from the airport.
Commercial operations at NMIA are scheduled to begin by the second week of May, following the planned inauguration on April 17. “We are keen to welcome passengers right after the inauguration. The application for the aerodrome permit will be submitted on February 6, and we expect to receive it within 70 days,” Bansal explained.
Highlighting the strategic importance NMIA in addressing the burgeoning demand for air travel in the region, Bansal said, “We are in discussions with all major airlines, both domestic and international, to ensure comprehensive connectivity for our passengers.”
He assured that NMIA is well-equipped to handle the additional passenger load, thereby easing congestion at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
The new airport boasts state-of-the-art amenities, which Bansal believes will be highly attractive to airlines and passengers alike. “We have incorporated modern facilities to enhance the passenger experience and meet their diverse requirements. Capacity will not be a problem for us,” he added.
However, Bansal noted that the current terminal at NMIA is designed to handle up to 20 million passengers annually. To accommodate future growth, construction of a second terminal is slated to commence in March 2028.
“By the end of July, we aim to start international operations. Last-minute connectivity arrangements are still under discussion, but we are confident of resolving these soon,” Bansal said.
Uran MLA Mahesh Baldi, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of CIDCO, Vijay Singhal; CEO of Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL), Capt BVJK Sharma and other dignitaries were also prng esent on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Singhal said the metro connectivity between CSMIA and NMIA has also been planned to make it easier for the Mumbai residents to reach the airport since the distance between both the airport’s is around 35 km.
On December 12, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) conducted PAPI system, crucial for guiding pilots during landing, was validated by AAI’s Flight Inspection Unit (FIU).
This system uses a series of lights perpendicular to the runway, emitting red and white signals to help pilots maintain the correct glide path. The validation process is essential for pilot safety and involves trials and analyses under both day and night conditions.
NMIA achieved a significant milestone on October 11, 2024 when an Indian Air Force (IAF) C295 aircraft successfully conducted a test landing.
This event, executed by an expert IAF crew, showcased the airport’s capability to handle various types of aircraft and underscored the collaborative efforts between the IAF and airport authorities to uphold high aviation safety and infrastructure standards.
NMIA is one of India’s largest greenfield international airports under development, with a capacity to handle 90 million passengers and 2.5 million tonnes of cargo annually.
As the second international airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), it is set to operate alongside CSMIA as part of an urban dual airport system, serving as a major gateway to the country.
The opening of NMIA is a landmark event, promising to enhance the aviation landscape in Mumbai and its surrounding regions. With robust planning and strategic partnerships, NMIA is set to become a major hub, catering to the growing needs of air travelers.
Shortest flight from CSMIA?
Even as first commercial landing happened at the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Sunday, aviation expert Vipul Saxena said this is the shortest aerial distance covered by a passenger aircraft from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
Till today, the shortest distance covered from CSMIA was to Pune. However, sources from NMIAL said the flight was not very short as it travelled a lot before it finally landed. All the calibration and testing happened before it hit the ground.
