MUMBAI: The Air India Group on Tuesday announced plans to begin commercial flights from the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), starting from the airport’s first phase of operations. The airport, operated by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30th September. Commercial airline services are expected to commence a few months after the inauguration. In the initial phase, Air India Group’s low-cost carrier, Air India Express, will operate 20 daily departures—equivalent to 40 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs)—connecting 15 Indian cities, the airline said in a press statement. “The Air India Group intends to scale up to 55 daily departures (110 ATMs) by mid-2026, including up to five daily international flights from NMIA,” it added. By winter 2026, the Group plans to further expand its operations to 60 daily departures (120 ATMs) from NMIA, providing seamless connectivity to key domestic and international destinations. Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, said: “We look forward to commencing operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport, as Mumbai joins the league of world cities with more than one airport. We are pleased to work with Adani Airports to build NMIA not only as a hub connecting India, but also as one of the country’s key global transit centres for both passengers and cargo, given its strategic geographical location. At the Air India Group, we are proud to lead the charge in connecting the West to the East and beyond via India. Our expansion at NMIA will support India’s growth as a global aviation hub.” Arun Bansal, Chief Executive Officer of Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Air India Group to Navi Mumbai International Airport as one of our valued airline partners. Their ambitious expansion plans and global vision align perfectly with our aim of making NMIA a benchmark in global aviation. This partnership will redefine Mumbai’s connectivity landscape and strengthen India’s twin-airport strategy. NMIA’s adoption of technology to enhance efficiency and provide a best-in-class passenger experience will play a key role in ensuring seamless and superior journeys for years to come.” Air India Express’s planned operations at NMIA are expected to significantly enhance connectivity to and from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), while also supporting international transit through the new airport. Navi Mumbai International Airport is being developed in five phases. The first phase is expected to accommodate 20 million passengers per annum (MPPA) and handle 0.5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo. Once fully completed, the airport will have the capacity to serve 90 MPPA and handle 3.2 MMT of cargo annually.
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