The Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL), is all set to begin commercial operations in June, is expected to play a key role in decongesting the city’s aviation sector. Low-cost carriers are anticipated to be at the forefront of this transition, with an estimated 30 domestic weekly flights scheduled to operate from the new airport starting in June.
The full decongestion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) is expected to occur in November, as airlines prepare their winter schedules, which will determine which flights will be transferred to Navi Mumbai. The winter schedule, running from late October to March 2026, is expected to coincide with the closure of Mumbai’s domestic terminal 1 in Vile Parle for reconstruction.
NMIAL will become the second airport serving the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with CSMIA currently being the only operational airport handling over 50 million passengers annually. Both airports are managed by the Adani Group, which offers a strategic advantage in negotiations with airlines regarding flight schedules, terminal usage, and incentives for relocation.
The Adani Group’s $2.1 billion mega-project at NMIAL will initially cater to 20 million passengers in its first phase. While the airport was initially slated to open in December 2024, construction delays pushed back the timeline. The airport’s runway is ready for commercial flights, but the terminal building is still under construction.
Earlier this month, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) held discussions with airport officials to assess the airport’s readiness for operations. A full-day inspection was conducted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and DGCA teams. Additionally, the DGCA reviewed the airport’s progress toward securing an aerodrome license.
A validation landing, which took place in December, tested new flight instruments and confirmed the airport’s operational safety for aircraft procedures. Furthermore, NMIAL completed flight calibration for the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI), drafting approach procedures in preparation for the arrival of commercial flights.
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