Akasa Air To Launch At Navi Mumbai Airport With Over 100 Weekly Departures

Akasa Air has entered into a partnership with Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, to begin commercial flight operations from the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, starting with over 100 weekly domestic departures.

The country's youngest airline will operate 15 daily domestic flights initially and scale up to 40-45 domestic and 8-10 international in the winter schedule. This corresponds to over 300 domestic and more than 50 international departures weekly, it said in a statement on Friday. The winter schedule usually runs from the end of October to the end of March.

Akasa Air will have the largest percentage of its fleet and operations based out of Navi Mumbai Airport, its Founder and CEO Vinay Dube said. "We will have 10 aircraft based at Navi Mumbai airport by fiscal 2027."

"Our foray into Navi Mumbai International Airport is a strategic step aligned with Akasa Air’s long-term vision to build a future-ready airline that is responsive to the evolving needs of Indian travellers," he said, adding that this move supports the airline's commitment to supplement existing capacities, unlock new demand centres, and enable sustainable growth.

"Enhanced connectivity from Navi Mumbai will not only strengthen its network in the western region but will also fuel India’s economic engine by improving connectivity, stimulating regional development, and ensuring that the benefits of aviation-led growth reach every corner of the country."

As part of its broader network strategy, Akasa Air is also set to ramp up to 10 parking bases by FY27, with a focused international expansion into key Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets.

NMIA is being developed by Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd., a joint venture between Adani Airport Holdings Ltd., which holds a 74% stake, and CIDCO, the Maharashtra government's development body, owning the remaining 26%. AAHL also owns Mumbai International Airport Ltd, which operates the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. The launch of NMIA is expected to create a dual-airport system for the financial capital of India, enabling the decongestion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Besides, its strategic location is aimed at meeting the rising air traffic demands of the wider Western India.

Spanning over 2,866 acres, NMIA is designed to handle 90 million passengers per annum and 3.2 million metric tonnes of cargo annually, once complete. In its initial phase, NMIA is set to handle 20 million passengers annually and 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo per annum.

"We are pleased to welcome Akasa Air as one of the inaugural airline partners at Navi Mumbai International Airport," said Arun Bansal, chief executive officer, Adani Airports Holdings Ltd. "Their rapid growth and forward-looking approach make them an ideal partner in NMIA’s journey to becoming a key domestic and international hub. Our collaboration aims to offer a seamless and enhanced travel experience for millions, with NMIA playing a central role in reshaping Mumbai’s air connectivity ecosystem."

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