Mumbai – With the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Thursday, Mumbai has officially become India’s first “double-airport metropolis,” a milestone hailed by Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu as a historic achievement for the nation’s aviation infrastructure. The new airport, located strategically in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, is set to cater to the growing air traffic demands of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Western India, marking a transformative moment in India’s airport capacity and connectivity landscape.

In a social media post on X, the Civil Aviation Minister congratulated the people of Maharashtra, emphasizing that the airport’s opening reflects the “synergy of the double-engine NDA government” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He highlighted NMIA as a state-of-the-art, technology-driven facility that establishes new benchmarks for passenger experience, operational efficiency, and long-term infrastructure capacity.

Developed and operated by Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), NMIA ranks among India’s largest greenfield airport projects. The opening day witnessed the airport handling 48 flights connecting nine domestic destinations and serving over 4,000 passengers, demonstrating its immediate capacity to support commercial operations and relieve congestion at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, described the airport launch as a “deeply moving moment,” acknowledging the collective efforts of workers, farmers, social workers, and specially-abled individuals who contributed to the project. He noted that for many of these participants, this marked their first experience of flying, underlining the broader social and economic impact of the project on local communities.

Strategically positioned to ease Mumbai’s burgeoning aviation demand, NMIA is expected to complement the city’s existing airport by handling both passenger and cargo traffic, thereby enhancing overall air connectivity for India’s financial capital. With Mumbai now equipped with two major operational airports, the city joins a select league of global aviation hubs, including London, New York, Moscow, Tokyo, and Shanghai, which rely on multiple airports to efficiently manage high passenger volumes.

The new airport incorporates modern technology and sustainable infrastructure features, aligning with global best practices in airport operations. Its greenfield design allows for scalable expansion, ensuring that the airport can accommodate future traffic growth while maintaining high standards of passenger convenience and safety.

On its first day of operations, NMIA handled flights from leading airlines such as IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India Express, connecting key Indian cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Goa. IndiGo’s inaugural flight from Bengaluru was greeted with a ceremonial water cannon salute, symbolizing the commencement of a new chapter in India’s aviation journey.

Civil Aviation Minister Naidu emphasized that NMIA represents not only a strategic infrastructure addition but also a key component in India’s broader vision for aviation-led growth, economic development, and international connectivity. The airport is expected to alleviate congestion at Mumbai’s primary airport, boost regional economic activity, and enhance travel convenience for millions of passengers in Western India.

The airport project also underscores the contribution of public-private partnerships in India’s infrastructure development. By combining government oversight with private sector efficiency and investment, NMIA has been delivered as a modern, scalable, and technologically advanced facility capable of meeting both domestic and international aviation needs.

With the commencement of operations at NMIA, Mumbai now stands as India’s first city with dual operational airports, setting a precedent for other metropolitan regions experiencing high air traffic growth. The airport’s full-scale operational capacity is expected to expand over the coming months, with plans to manage up to 40 departures per day by the end of January 2026, significantly improving air travel options and connectivity for the region.

The launch of NMIA is being widely regarded as a turning point in India’s aviation sector, strengthening Mumbai’s position as a global air travel hub and providing a critical boost to the country’s infrastructure capabilities. As operations ramp up, NMIA is poised to play a central role in enhancing India’s aviation landscape, facilitating smoother passenger flows, and supporting the nation’s broader economic and connectivity objectives.

In summary, the opening of Navi Mumbai International Airport not only marks a historic milestone for Mumbai and Maharashtra but also establishes India’s first true double-airport city, reflecting a combination of visionary government planning, private sector execution, and a focus on long-term capacity building in the country’s aviation sector.