IndiGo To Be First Airline To Take Off From Navi Mumbai Airport

IndiGo is set to be the first airline to take off from the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport with 18 daily departures to over 15 cities on the first day of the Adani Group-owned airport’s commercial operations.

These 18 daily departures corresponds to 36 air traffic movements on the opening day. The airline plans to scale up its operations at NMIA significantly to 79 daily departures or 158 air traffic movements, including 14 international departures by November this year, according to a joint statement issued by the companies on Wednesday.

Each arrival and each departure is counted as one air traffic movement. This means a flight that both takes off and lands at an airport will be counted as two movements.

By March 2026, the airline said that its operations will be scaled up to over 100 daily departures and further grow to 140 daily departures by November next year, including 30 international.

"Our alliance signals towards achievement of complete operational readiness on both sides to take next steps," said Pieter Elbers, chief executive officer, IndiGo. "This expansion underscores our dedication to catering to the evolving needs of our aspirational travellers."

This partnership will fuel aviation growth in the country, making it a key driver for India to become the third-largest aviation economy by 2030, as per the joint statement.

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.

CSMIA is among the busiest airports globally, handling over 45 million passengers annually, and faces significant congestion with limited scope for expansion due to surrounding urban development. The launch of NMIA is expected to ease congestion at the heavily burdened CSMIA by creating a dual-airport system. It promises to enhance passenger experience and drive economic growth across the Mumbai region.

“We are delighted to announce IndiGo as the first airline partner to commence operations from NMIA,” Arun Bansal, chief executive officer of Adani Airport Holdings said, commenting on the development. "This partnership marks a major step towards confirming NMIA’s position as a transfer hub for domestic and international travellers. Together, we are poised to transform travel experience for millions of passengers, providing them both convenience and enhanced travel options. Our collaboration is set to strengthen NMIA’s role as an aviation gateway for the region and for travellers nationally and internationally."

NMIA's strategic location is aimed at meeting the rising air traffic demands of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and 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.

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