Mumbai: India’s most anticipated greenfield airport, Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), officially began commercial operations on December 25, 2025, ushering in a new era of connectivity for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Strategic Launch and Operational Scope
Navi Mumbai International Airport, developed by Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL), a subsidiary of Adani Airports Holdings Ltd., commenced flight operations on December 25, 2025, with 23 scheduled daily departures. The inaugural flights were operated by IndiGo, followed by Air India Express and Akasa Air. The airport is expected to scale up to 34 departures and 120 daily air traffic movements by February 2026.
The airport’s initial phase is designed to handle 20 million passengers per annum (MPPA), with future expansion planned to reach 90 MPPA. This capacity places NMIA among the largest aviation hubs in South Asia. The airport spans over 1,160 hectares and includes dedicated cargo terminals, multimodal transport integration, and advanced air traffic control systems.
The project was executed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model between the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and the Adani Group. CIDCO, the nodal agency for the project, oversaw land acquisition, rehabilitation, and infrastructure development. The airport’s construction adhered to the guidelines set by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA), ensuring compliance with national aviation standards.
Legal Framework and Environmental Clearances
The NMIA project underwent extensive legal and regulatory scrutiny before its launch. The airport received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in November 2010, with subsequent amendments approved in 2015 and 2017. The project also secured consent from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and clearance under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
Land acquisition for the airport involved the rehabilitation of over 3,500 families from 10 villages. CIDCO implemented a structured rehabilitation and resettlement plan, which included monetary compensation, housing, and employment opportunities. The process was monitored by the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission to ensure compliance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
The airport’s operational readiness was certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) following the successful completion of flight trials and safety audits. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) also approved the airport’s security infrastructure, which includes biometric access control, AI-powered surveillance, and integrated baggage screening systems.
NMIA is strategically located in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, and is connected to major urban centres via the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), Navi Mumbai Metro, and dedicated bus corridors. The airport is approximately 35 km from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and is expected to decongest Mumbai’s primary airport by absorbing regional and low-cost carrier traffic.
IndiGo has launched services to ten destinations, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Akasa Air and Air India Express have initiated routes to four destinations, with plans to expand by Q2 2026. The airport’s cargo terminal is expected to handle 1 million metric tonnes annually, supporting pharmaceutical, textile, and agricultural exports.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, NMIA is projected to generate over 250,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute ₹2,500 crore annually to the regional economy. The airport is also expected to boost tourism and trade in Maharashtra, aligning with the government’s National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016 and the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme.
The airport’s development aligns with India’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure. NMIA incorporates LEED Gold-certified buildings, solar energy systems, and rainwater harvesting, in compliance with the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) and National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives.
