Winning Bizness Desk

Mumbai.Navi Mumbai International Airport will begin commercial operations from December 25, 2025, marking a major expansion of aviation capacity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The first flight will be operated by Akasa Air from Delhi to Navi Mumbai, opening a new chapter for India’s second major aviation hub in the region. The airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8 and is projected to handle up to nine crore passengers annually by 2026, matching the capacity of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Akasa to Launch First Set of Flights

Akasa Air will operate the maiden commercial flight on Christmas Day, landing in Navi Mumbai from Delhi. The airline will also begin a Goa route the same day. From December 26, Akasa will link Delhi and Kochi, followed by the launch of Ahmedabad flights on December 31. The airline plans to directly connect four major cities to the new airport in its initial rollout.

IndiGo to Connect Ten Key Cities

IndiGo will also launch services from December 25, offering connectivity from ten cities. These include Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, North Goa, Jaipur, Nagpur, Kochi and Mangaluru. Air India Express is also expected to begin operations by the end of the year, further expanding the airport’s early network.

Airport Capacity Designed for Mumbai’s Growing Traffic

Navi Mumbai International Airport has been developed to ease heavy traffic at Mumbai’s existing airport. Spread across 1,160 hectares, the first phase has been designed to handle 2.5 crore passengers annually, with the capacity for 60 daily flights. The long-term plan includes four terminals and a total capacity of nine crore annual passengers once all phases are completed, along with the ability to handle 300 flights every day.

Massive Investment in Phase One Development

Approximately Rs 19,647 crore has been spent on the first phase, which includes one terminal and one runway. The project aims to support the rapid growth of aviation in western India. Once fully operational, the airport is expected to emerge as a major hub supporting business, tourism and cargo movement across the region.

Naming Honours Farmer Leader DB Patil

The airport has been named after DB Patil, a prominent farmer leader from Maharashtra who fought for the rights of local villagers during the land acquisition process for the airport. Patil is remembered for championing the cause of displaced communities and ensuring their rehabilitation during major development projects in the region.

Adani Group Holds Majority Stake

The airport is being developed jointly by the Adani Group and CIDCO, the state’s land development authority. The Adani Group holds 74 percent stake, while CIDCO retains 26 percent. Its strategic location near Jawaharlal Nehru Port and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link positions the airport as a future gateway for expanding air travel needs in the Mumbai region.

Summary Pointers

• Commercial flights to start at Navi Mumbai Airport on December 25, 2025
• Akasa Air to operate the inaugural flight from Delhi
• IndiGo to connect ten major Indian cities from day one
• Air India Express to launch services by year-end
• Phase one built at cost of Rs 19,647 crore with one terminal and runway
• Total capacity to reach nine crore passengers by 2026
• Airport named after farmer leader DB Patil, with Adani Group holding majority stake