IndiGo is set to be the first to commence commercial flight operations from the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), owned by the Adani Group, according to a joint statement issued on Wednesday.The airline will begin with 18 daily departures, connecting more than 15 cities. By November 2025, this is expected to expand to 79 daily departures, including 14 international flights. Further expansion is planned, with operations reaching 140 daily departures—30 of which will be international—by November 2026.“This partnership will fuel aviation growth in the country, making it a key driver for India to become the third-largest aviation economy by 2030,” the joint statement read, as quoted by ANI.IndiGo’s Chief Executive Officer, Pieter Elbers, said, “IndiGo will be the inaugural airline to operate from NMIA and we couldn’t be more pleased to announce this. Our alliance signals towards achievement of complete operational readiness on both sides to take next steps. This expansion underscores our dedication to catering to the evolving needs of our aspirational travellers and further contributing to the growth of India’s booming aviation sector.”He added, “The new flights from the brand-new NMIA will elevate the travel experience of our customers while enjoying affordable, on-time hassle-free services on our unparalleled network.”Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) said, “We are delighted to announce IndiGo as the first airline partner to commence operations from NMIA. This partnership marks a major step towards confirming NMIA’s position as a transfer hub for domestic and international travellers.”
“Together, we are poised to transform travel experience for millions of passengers, providing them both convenience and enhanced travel options. Our collaboration is set to strengthen NMIA’s role as an aviation gateway for the region and for travellers nationally and internationally,” Bansal added.The airport’s initial phase will have the capacity to handle 20 million passengers and 0.5 million tonnes of cargo annually. Future expansions aim to accommodate up to 90 million passengers and 3.2 million tonnes of cargo per year.Spread across 1,160 hectares, NMIA will introduce a dual-airport system for Mumbai, aiming to reduce congestion at the existing airport and enhance passenger services. The facility includes two parallel runways for simultaneous operations, and a 3,700-metre runway capable of handling large commercial aircraft.The Adani Group entered the aviation sector by winning bids for six airports- Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Jaipur, Guwahati, and Thiruvananthapuram—through agreements with the Airports Authority of India. AAHL, established in 2019 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd., also operates the Mumbai airport.
