ULWE- Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) has officially begun commercial operations, marking a major milestone for the Mumbai aviation market on December 25, 2025. Initial services are operated by IndiGo (6E), Air India Express (IX), and Akasa Air (QP), Star Air (S5) linking the new airport with key destinations across India.
During the launch phase, IndiGo (6E) leads activity at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI), alongside Air India Express (IX) and Akasa Air (QP), with flights to major cities including Bengaluru (BLR), Delhi (DEL), Hyderabad (HYD), Kochi (COK), and Ahmedabad (AMD).
Navi Mumbai Airports Begins Operations
Commercial operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport begin with 23 scheduled daily departures during the first month.
Flights operate between 08:00 and 20:00, with the airport handling up to 10 aircraft movements per hour. Round-the-clock operations are planned from February 2026, increasing to 34 daily departures to support growth across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
IndiGo Flight Ops at NMIA
IndiGo (6E) has launched services to 13 destinations from the new airport. These include Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Cochin, Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Nagpur, Goa Mopa, Jaipur, Chennai, Coimbatore, and Vadodara.
The airline’s first operational day included an inbound service from Bengaluru and an outbound service to Hyderabad, underscoring the airport’s role as a strategic feeder for business and leisure travel.
The airline plans to continue scaling operations while maintaining connectivity across both Mumbai airports.
IndiGo leadership stated that operations from Navi Mumbai will complement Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai (BOM), improving connectivity and easing traffic pressure at the primary airport. The move also strengthens IndiGo’s broader domestic network strategy.
Effective 25 December 2025
| Sector | Flight No. | Frequency | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navi Mumbai – Ahmedabad | 6E 0837 | Daily | 10:10 | 11:15 |
| Ahmedabad – Navi Mumbai | 6E 0836 | Daily | 11:55 | 13:00 |
| Bengaluru – Navi Mumbai | 6E 0460 | Daily | 06:10 | 08:00 |
| Navi Mumbai – Bengaluru | 6E 0461 | Daily | 19:45 | 21:35 |
| Cochin – Navi Mumbai | 6E 0907 | Daily | 08:05 | 10:00 |
| Navi Mumbai – Cochin | 6E 0908 | Daily | 18:25 | 20:20 |
| Delhi – Navi Mumbai | 6E 6346 | Daily | 06:40 | 08:45 |
| Navi Mumbai – Delhi | 6E 5263 | Daily | 09:25 | 11:15 |
| Navi Mumbai – Hyderabad | 6E 0882 | Daily | 08:40 | 10:00 |
| Hyderabad – Navi Mumbai | 6E 0884 | Daily | 10:40 | 12:05 |
| Navi Mumbai – Mangaluru | 6E 0865 | Daily | 10:40 | 12:10 |
| Mangaluru – Navi Mumbai | 6E 0866 | Daily | 16:15 | 17:45 |
| Lucknow – Navi Mumbai | 6E 0829 | Daily | 06:05 | 08:15 |
| Navi Mumbai – Lucknow | 6E 0830 | Daily | 19:30 | 21:25 |
| Navi Mumbai – Nagpur | 6E 0817 | Daily | 13:45 | 15:20 |
| Nagpur – Navi Mumbai | 6E 0818 | Daily | 16:00 | 17:35 |
| Navi Mumbai – Goa (Mopa) | 6E 2054 | 6x Weekly | 16:00 | 17:05 |
| Goa (Mopa) – Navi Mumbai | 6E 2055 | 6x Weekly | 17:45 | 18:50 |
Effective 26 December 2025
| Sector | Flight No. | Frequency | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navi Mumbai – Jaipur | 6E 0954 | Daily | 14:55 | 16:30 |
| Jaipur – Navi Mumbai | 6E 0955 | Daily | 17:10 | 18:55 |
Effective 29 December 2025
| Sector | Flight No. | Frequency | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navi Mumbai – Coimbatore | 6E 0860 | Daily | 09:00 | 10:45 |
| Coimbatore – Navi Mumbai | 6E 0861 | Daily | 11:15 | 13:05 |
| Chennai – Navi Mumbai | 6E 0898 | Daily | 06:25 | 08:15 |
| Navi Mumbai – Chennai | 6E 0899 | Daily | 19:40 | 21:50 |
Effective 30 December 2025
| Sector | Flight No. | Frequency | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navi Mumbai – Vadodara | 6E 0890 | 5x Weekly | 15:00 | 16:05 |
| Vadodara – Navi Mumbai | 6E 0891 | 5x Weekly | 16:40 | 17:45 |
All timings are local and may vary by day of operation.
Air India Express Flights at NMIA
Air India Express (IX) has also commenced flights from Navi Mumbai International Airport, initially serving Bengaluru and Delhi.
The airline positions Navi Mumbai as a key pillar of its dual-airport strategy in Mumbai, supporting capacity growth across Maharashtra.
The initial timetable includes daily flights to Bengaluru and five weekly flights to Delhi, with frequencies increasing to daily on the Delhi route from January 1, 2026. All timings are local and designed to support both business and leisure travel.
The first passenger on the opening flight received a commemorative boarding pass during a ceremony at the airport. The airline noted that Navi Mumbai will serve as a core element of its dual-airport strategy for the Mumbai region, complementing existing operations from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Effective December 25, 2025, daily flights operate from Navi Mumbai to Bengaluru at 08:55 with return services from Bengaluru at 06:00. Flights to Delhi depart Navi Mumbai at 14:05 on select days, with return services leaving Delhi at 11:15. From January 1, 2026, both Bengaluru and Delhi sectors will see additional daily services, offering morning and evening options in each direction.
Air India Express continues to strengthen its footprint in Maharashtra. The airline now operates over 130 weekly flights from Mumbai and around 105 weekly flights from Pune. Operations have also expanded from Nagpur with twice daily services to Bengaluru (BLR), which is the airline’s largest domestic hub.
Akasa Air Inaugural Landing
Akasa Air (QP) now connects Navi Mumbai with Delhi, Goa, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. Its first flight on the new route operated between Delhi (DEL) and Navi Mumbai (NMI), followed by the return sector.
Scheduled flights to Delhi and Kochi will begin on 26 December 2025, while services to Ahmedabad will commence on 31 December 2025.
The airline plans to scale up its presence at the airport with a target of 300 domestic and 50 international weekly departures over time.
The new operations will support its broader growth plan, including an expanding domestic network and future international destinations across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The carrier is also planning up to 10 parking bases by FY2027 to support this growth.
Inaugural Day Schedule
Effective 25 December 2025
| Flight | From (IATA) | Dep Time | To (IATA) | Arr Time | Frequency | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QP 1831 | Delhi (DEL) | 05:25 | Navi Mumbai (NMI) | 08:10 | 25 Dec only | Non-stop |
| QP 1832 | Navi Mumbai (NMI) | 08:50 | Delhi (DEL) | 11:15 | 25 Dec only | Non-stop |
| QP 1928 | Goa (GOX) | 15:40 | Navi Mumbai (NMI) | 17:00 | Daily | Non-stop |
| QP 1927 | Navi Mumbai (NMI) | 17:40 | Goa (GOX) | 18:55 | Daily | Non-stop |
Daily Delhi Services
Effective 26 December 2025
| Flight | From (IATA) | Dep Time | To (IATA) | Arr Time | Frequency | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QP 1831 | Delhi (DEL) | 06:30 | Navi Mumbai (NMI) | 08:50 | Daily | Non-stop |
| QP 1832 | Navi Mumbai (NMI) | 10:55 | Delhi (DEL) | 13:15 | Daily | Non-stop |
Kochi Services (Phase 1)
Effective 26 December 2025
| Flight | From (IATA) | Dep Time | To (IATA) | Arr Time | Frequency | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QP 1914 | Kochi (COK) | 10:50 | Navi Mumbai (NMI) | 12:45 | Fri, Sat | Non-stop |
| QP 1915 | Navi Mumbai (NMI) | 13:30 | Kochi (COK) | 15:30 | Fri, Sat | Non-stop |
Kochi Services (Phase 2 Expansion)
Effective 28 December 2025
| Flight | From (IATA) | Dep Time | To (IATA) | Arr Time | Frequency | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QP 1914 | Kochi (COK) | 08:50 | Navi Mumbai (NMI) | 10:50 | Tue, Wed, Sun | Non-stop |
| QP 1915 | Navi Mumbai (NMI) | 11:30 | Kochi (COK) | 13:30 | Tue, Wed, Sun | Non-stop |
Ahmedabad Service
Effective 31 December 2025
| Flight | From (IATA) | Dep Time | To (IATA) | Arr Time | Frequency | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QP 1916 | Navi Mumbai (NMI) | 17:40 | Ahmedabad (AMD) | 18:50 | Wednesday | Non-stop |
Navi Mumbai Airport Operation Update
Navi Mumbai International Airport is currently conducting Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer trials with security agencies and airline partners to ensure smooth ramp-up.
The airport has been developed to ease congestion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) and provide additional connectivity for travelers in the wider Mumbai region. With modern facilities and phased expansion plans, Navi Mumbai International Airport is positioned to become a major aviation hub.
Expanding Air Connectivity Across the Mumbai Region
The airport has opened after years of development and will progressively scale up to become one of India’s most important aviation hubs. Initial day operations included around 30 domestic flights, split evenly between arrivals and departures. Passenger handling began early in the morning as the terminal opened for departures at 6.40 am.
Four airlines are operating domestic services from the new airport. IndiGo (6E) is the largest operator across most routes. Akasa Air (QP) is flying to Ahmedabad, Goa, Kochi, and Delhi. Air India Express (IX) connects to Bengaluru and Delhi.
Star Air (S5) is operating services to Goa and Ahmedabad. In total, the airport will serve up to 13 destinations during the early phase of operations, with capacity for 10 aircraft movements per hour.
Routes to Delhi (DEL) are currently the busiest, with three daily flights operated by IndiGo (6E), Air India Express (IX), and Akasa Air (QP). The airport is expected to handle more than 4,000 passengers on opening day, setting the tone for steady traffic growth in the months ahead.
Passenger Services and Operating Hours
During the first phase, the airport will operate between 8 am and 8 pm. Plans are already in place to gradually expand into 24-hour operations from February 2026.
Passenger processing includes Digi Yatra-enabled touchpoints for faster check-in and boarding, while conventional counters remain available for those preferring manual services. Retail and dining outlets have been selected to balance affordability with local tastes.
Infrastructure and Long-Term Capacity
The Greenfield Airport spans approximately 1,160 hectares under a public-private partnership model. Adani Airports Holdings owns 74 percent of the project, while CIDCO holds the remaining 26 percent.
The development plan includes two parallel runways, multiple terminals, and major cargo facilities. At full build-out, the airport is designed to handle up to 90 million passengers annually.
The first operational phase opens with Terminal 1 and one runway, with declared capacity for 20 million passengers per year and 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo. The airport serves passengers across the wider Mumbai region, located roughly 35 to 50 km from key business and residential districts.
Access and Regional Impact
The airport is positioned to improve aviation access for Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Thane, and the eastern corridor, while easing pressure on Mumbai’s primary airport at Andheri.
With new road and rail links planned over time, connectivity to the wider Maharashtra region is expected to strengthen significantly.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
