Air India is preparing to make a strong entry at the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), unveiling plans for 40 daily flights in the first phase of operations. The announcement marks another milestone in positioning NMIA as a critical aviation hub that will ease the mounting pressure on Mumbai’s existing airport.
According to officials, the airline will connect 15 domestic cities initially, with 40 daily movements comprising arrivals and departures. The carrier’s strategy includes a steady scale-up to 55 daily departures by mid-2026, introducing up to five international routes, and eventually increasing to 60 daily departures and 60 arrivals by winter 2026. This phased growth underscores the confidence airlines are placing in NMIA’s potential to transform regional connectivity. Other carriers have also announced ambitious deployment plans. IndiGo is expected to begin with 36 flights from day one of commissioning, connecting a similar spread of 15 cities. By November, its schedule may expand to 158 flights daily, including 14 international connections, although cross-border services are projected to commence only in the following year. Meanwhile, Akasa Air is preparing to start with 15 domestic flights before expanding to 40 daily services, including 8–10 international routes, by summer 2026.
The new facility is being developed in five phases. The first phase alone is designed to handle 20 million passengers annually and half a million metric tonnes of cargo. Once fully complete, NMIA will be able to manage 90 million passengers and 3.2 million tonnes of cargo each year, positioning it among the largest aviation facilities in the region. Officials have confirmed that passengers will soon be able to choose between two codes while booking—BOM for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and NMI for Navi Mumbai International Airport. While the existing airport currently handles around 930 flights a day and accommodates 55 million passengers annually, NMIA’s full capacity, combined with Mumbai’s, will allow both airports to handle 145 million passengers annually by 2032.
Industry experts point out that the opening of NMIA will not only spread air traffic more evenly across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region but also strengthen India’s position as a global aviation hub. They argue that sustainable design features, efficient cargo facilities, and improved last-mile connectivity can make NMIA a model for future greenfield airports. The development comes at a critical time as Mumbai grapples with airside congestion and limited expansion possibilities at its existing airport. With multiple airlines committing to substantial operations from day one, NMIA is expected to quickly emerge as a preferred gateway for both domestic and international travel.
While challenges such as seamless transport integration, sustainable energy use, and environmental safeguards remain, officials and experts alike suggest that NMIA is poised to redefine air travel in western India. For residents of Navi Mumbai and the wider metropolitan region, the new airport represents not just an additional travel option but also a promise of more balanced urban development and equitable access to global connectivity.
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