Navi Mumbai International Airport Records 26,021 Passengers in First Five Days

December 31, 2025 at 08:36 AM•2 min read

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), developed by Adani Airports, recorded 26,021 passengers and 162 air traffic movements in its first five days, signaling strong Mumbai air

Key Points

126,021 passengers were handled by Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) in its first five days of commercial operations.
2The airport recorded 162 scheduled air traffic movements (ATM) between December 25 and December 30, 2025.
3The new facility, an Adani Airports development, is designed to relieve congestion at CSMIA and will eventually serve up to 90 million passengers annually.
4Initial services were operated by IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and Star Air on domestic routes to 13 major cities.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has achieved a major milestone. Just five days after its launch, the new facility recorded significant NMIA passenger footfall.

Commercial operations began on December 25, 2025, marking a new chapter in India's aviation industry. The airport, developed by Adani Airports, processed 26,021 passengers by December 30. This figure includes 12,431 arrivals and 13,590 departures.

Strong Operational Debut

Initial traffic numbers confirm strong Mumbai air travel demand. The airport managed 162 scheduled air traffic movements (ATM). This included 81 arrivals and 81 departures in the first five days.

Passenger volumes saw a peak over the weekend. More than 5,500 travelers used the airport on both Saturday and Sunday. On its first day, NMIA handled 48 scheduled flights. These flights served passengers on domestic routes only.

Major carriers like IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and Star Air were part of the initial launch. The airport currently connects to 13 major domestic destinations. These cities include Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

A New Gateway for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region

NMIA is one of India's largest greenfield airport projects. It is located in the Ulwe-Panvel region of Maharashtra. The primary goal is to relieve congestion at the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai.

This new facility establishes a true multi-airport system for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The airport's initial phase is designed to handle 20 million passengers per annum (MPPA). Future plans aim to scale this capacity up to 90 MPPA.

Boosting Regional Connectivity

The strong start is a positive indicator for regional connectivity and trade. The airport features modern, state-of-the-art infrastructure. Operations are currently limited to 12 hours a day. However, the operator plans to scale up to round-the-clock service by February 2026.

Opportunity: The rapid uptake suggests significant untapped travel demand in the region. This validates the need for expanded capacity.
Future Growth: The airport is poised to play a crucial role in India's travel evolution. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) consistently highlights India as one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets.

While direct metro links are still under development, existing road and rail networks support passenger access. The successful launch of this new hub provides positive news for commercial aviation news globally.