Navi Mumbai International Airport has handled more than three million passengers within eight months and eight days of beginning commercial operations, marking a major early milestone for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s second international airport. The airport administration announced the achievement on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
Commercial flight services at the airport began on December 25, 2025. Within fewer than 200 days, the airport also commenced scheduled international services to Abu Dhabi, according to the administration. The number of destinations served has since increased from 13 to 46, while the airport has handled approximately 22,500 commercial flight movements.
The airport administration said operational performance had also focused on passenger service. In August, an average of 94% of passengers received their final checked-in baggage within the stipulated time, according to information released by the airport. The administration cited the figure as part of its effort to provide smoother services to passengers.
Navi Mumbai International Airport is being developed to expand air connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and to provide additional links to major cities in India. The airport administration said six more domestic destinations—Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ranchi, Darbhanga, Guwahati and Sindhudurg—are planned for inclusion in the network.
The proposed additions are expected to provide passengers travelling to those cities with more flight options from Navi Mumbai. The airport company also plans to add new airlines and routes before the winter schedule begins in November 2026, with the stated aim of expanding international connectivity further.
According to airport representatives, the company is pursuing additional airline partnerships and routes across domestic and international markets. The stated objective is to strengthen air connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and establish the airport as an important aviation gateway for western India.
The airport is planned to reach an annual passenger-handling capacity of 90 million when fully operational. Its initial phase has been developed with an annual capacity of 20 million passengers. The airport is also expected to have the capacity to handle five lakh metric tonnes of cargo each year.
Navi Mumbai International Airport is being developed through a public-private partnership between Adani Airport Holdings Limited and the City and Industrial Development Corporation. It is intended to supplement Mumbai’s existing international airport, ease pressure from rising air traffic there and support economic and urban development in the Navi Mumbai region. The next announced expansion milestone is the addition of new airlines and routes ahead of the November 2026 winter schedule.
