Navi Mumbai International Airport Opens This Christmas
Navi Mumbai’s long-awaited international airport will begin commercial operations on December 25, 2024, marking a major milestone in India’s aviation infrastructure. Following its official inauguration on October 8, the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) will see both Akasa Air and IndiGo launching flights from the country’s newest aviation hub.
Key Features of Navi Mumbai Airport
- First Phase Cost: Built at Rs 19,650 crore
- Initial Capacity: 2 crore passengers annually with one runway and terminal
- Future Expansion: Planned expansion to 4 runways and 3 terminals by 2032
- Ultimate Capacity: 9 crore passengers and 3.25 million tonnes of cargo annually
During the inauguration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the airport’s lotus-inspired architecture as representing India’s cultural heritage and modern ambitions. He emphasized the project reflects the government’s commitment to world-class infrastructure development.
Architecture and Sustainability
Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, NMIA features distinctive lotus-inspired architecture and will be India’s first fully digital airport. The facility incorporates advanced technology including facial-recognition boarding, biometric e-gates, smart baggage systems, and automated passenger flow management.
Sustainability features include 47 MW of solar power generation, electric vehicle-based mobility systems, and comprehensive water-recycling infrastructure.
Flight Operations and Airlines
Akasa Air will operate the inaugural commercial flight from Delhi to Navi Mumbai on December 25. Flight QP 1831 will depart Delhi at 5:25 AM and arrive at 8:10 AM, with the return flight scheduled for 8:50 AM.
Initially, Akasa Air will connect Navi Mumbai to Delhi, Goa, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. The airline will offer daily flights to Delhi and Goa, five weekly services to Kochi, and Wednesday services to Ahmedabad expanding from December 31. Starting fares on the Delhi route begin around Rs 6,000.
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, will launch operations connecting NMIA to 10 domestic destinations including Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, North Goa (Mopa), Jaipur, Nagpur, Cochin, and Mangalore.
The airport will initially operate for 12 hours daily starting at 8:00 AM, with both airlines planning to expand their networks as the airport’s infrastructure grows.
