A first flight from Navi Mumbai airport is to be operated by IndiGo

According to plans, IndiGo would be the first airline to operate out of the soon-to-be Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on the first day of commercial service, with 18 daily departures to over 15 destinations. These 18 departures will translate to 36 air traffic movements, as both landings and takeoffs are counted separately. IndiGo will greatly increase its airport operations, with a joint announcement from the Adani Group and IndiGo stating that by November 2025, the airline will have 79 daily departures, 158 air traffic movements per day, including 14 international flights.

Looking ahead, IndiGo anticipates expanding its presence even further, with more than 100 daily departures by March 2026, and a target of 140 daily departures by November 2026, including 30 international flights. Commenting on the collaboration, Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, noted that this alliance highlights the operational readiness on both sides and represents a major step in enhancing air travel for India’s growing base of aspirational travelers.

It is expected that this strategic partnership will be essential to India’s aviation development as the nation strives to become the third-largest aviation market globally by 2030. The joint venture that is developing NMIA is called Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd.; Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. owns 74% of the company, while the Maharashtra government’s development agency, CIDCO, controls the other 26%. Adani Airport Holdings also manages the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai, which is currently one of the busiest airports in the world, accommodating over 45 million passengers annually. However, expansion possibilities at CSMIA are limited due to the dense surrounding urban infrastructure, creating an urgent need for additional capacity.

NMIA’s opening is viewed as a significant step in reducing CSMIA’s traffic and successfully creating a dual-airport system to enhance traveler satisfaction and boost local economic expansion. Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airport Holdings, expressed enthusiasm over the collaboration with IndiGo, describing it as a milestone in shaping NMIA into a hub for both domestic and international connectivity. Once fully developed, NMIA will span 2,866 acres and is projected to handle up to 90 million passengers and 3.2 million metric tonnes of cargo annually. In its initial phase, the airport is expected to serve 20 million passengers and process 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo per year, addressing the increasing air traffic demand across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Western India.