Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) will open for commercial operations tomorrow, December 25, marking a major milestone for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The first flight to arrive will be IndiGo
6E460 from Bengaluru at 8 am, followed by the first departure, IndiGo 6E882 to Hyderabad at 8.40 am.
First day of flights
The airport’s inaugural day will see operations by major carriers including IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air India Express, and Star Air. Reports indicate that a total of 30 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) are expected on the first day. This coincides with the festive Christmas-New Year period, making it a significant day for travellers and the aviation industry alike.
All about Navi Mumbai International Airport
Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned the state-of-the-art greenfield airport on 8 October 2025, nearly two-and-a-half months ago. For decades, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) at Vile Parle–Santacruz has been Mumbai’s only international gateway, handling over 50 million passengers annually. The city’s growing air traffic had put considerable pressure on CSMIA, highlighting the need for a second international airport.
Owned by the Adani Group, NMIA is set to transform the MMR, which includes Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts, as well as parts of Palghar, Thane, and Raigad. With the new airport, Mumbai will operate under a twin-airport model, similar to global hubs such as Dubai (DXB–DWC), London (Heathrow–Gatwick), and New York (JFK–Newark).
NMIA is expected to ease congestion at CSMIA and support the region’s growing demand for domestic and international travel. With modern facilities and expanded capacity, the airport will strengthen Mumbai’s position as a major aviation hub in India. Passengers can now look forward to improved connectivity, smoother operations, and a world-class travel experience from the new airport.
