IndiGo Set to Be the First Airline to Operate from Navi Mumbai International Airport


IndiGo to Launch First Commercial Flights from NMIA

India's largest airline, IndiGo, will become the first carrier to commence commercial operations from the much-anticipated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), a greenfield project developed by the Adani Group. According to a joint announcement made on Wednesday, IndiGo is expected to initiate operations in mid-2025, marking a significant development in the Indian aviation sector.

Initial Flight Plan and Expansion Targets

IndiGo will begin operations with 18 daily departures (36 Air Traffic Movements - ATMs) to over 15 domestic destinations. This number is expected to rise steadily:

  • By November 2025: Operations will increase to 79 daily departures (158 ATMs), including 14 international flights.

  • By November 2026: IndiGo aims to double its frequency to 140 daily departures (280 ATMs), with 30 international departures.

This rapid scaling of operations demonstrates IndiGo’s strategic intent to make NMIA a key domestic and international hub.


Strategic Partnership Between IndiGo and Adani Group

Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, emphasized the importance of this partnership:

“IndiGo will be the inaugural airline to operate from NMIA and we couldn't be more pleased to announce this. Our alliance signals operational readiness and reflects our dedication to India’s booming aviation sector.”

Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), hailed the agreement as a milestone:

“This partnership marks a major step towards confirming NMIA’s position as a transfer hub. Together, we aim to transform the travel experience for millions of passengers.”

NMIA: Key Infrastructure Details and Capacity

The Navi Mumbai International Airport is envisioned as a dual-airport system to complement and decongest the existing Mumbai Airport, also managed by the Adani Group.

  • Initial passenger capacity: 20 million passengers per year

  • Cargo handling: 0.5 million tonnes annually

  • Ultimate capacity: 90 million passengers and 3.2 million tonnes of cargo per year

  • Land area: 1,160 hectares (approx. 2,866 acres)

  • Runways: Two parallel runways, allowing simultaneous landings and takeoffs

  • Main runway: 3,700 meters, capable of handling wide-body aircraft

This infrastructure is designed to support India’s aspiration of becoming the third-largest aviation economy by 2030.

Construction and Inauguration Timeline

The Adani Group had earlier signaled that NMIA would be operational in the first half of 2025. In March 2025, Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, visited the site, which is now in the final stages of readiness. This visit reinforced confidence in the project’s timely inauguration.

Adani Group’s Footprint in India’s Aviation Sector

Adani Airport Holdings Limited, established in 2019, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd. The group made a major foray into aviation by securing bids to operate and develop six key airports across India:

  • Ahmedabad

  • Lucknow

  • Mangaluru

  • Jaipur

  • Guwahati

  • Thiruvananthapuram

Adani has also taken over the Mumbai International Airport, further consolidating its position as a major airport operator in India.

Conclusion: A New Chapter for Indian Aviation

The commencement of operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport by IndiGo signifies a new era for Indian aviation. It not only marks the operational readiness of a world-class greenfield airport but also cements the Adani Group’s strategic role in shaping the future of air travel in India.

With a sharp focus on connectivity, infrastructure, and international integration, NMIA is poised to become a major aviation gateway for India in the years ahead.


Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

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