Airline to commence commercial flight operations from NMIA with over 18 daily departures
IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, has been confirmed as the first carrier to launch commercial operations from the newly constructed Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), developed by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, media reports said.
IndiGo will start flights to 15+ cities, eyeing 140 daily departures by 2026.
Initially, IndiGo will operate over 18 daily departures and 36 air traffic movements (ATMs), connecting passengers to more than 15 Indian cities. The airline has charted an aggressive expansion plan from NMIA, targeting 79 daily departures (158 ATMs) including 14 international flights by November 2025. By November 2026, these numbers are expected to double, with 140 daily departures (280 ATMs) and 30 international connections.
In a statement, Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, said, “The new flights from the brand-new NMIA will elevate our customers’ travel experience while enjoying affordable, on-time, hassle-free services on our unparalleled network.”
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Navi Mumbai’s new aviation hub to ease congestion and boost international reach
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The NMIA is designed to handle 20 million passengers and 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo in its first phase
Upon full development, it will accommodate 90 million passengers and 3.2 million metric tonnes of cargo annually, effectively complementing Mumbai’s overburdened Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, which surpassed its 50 million passenger capacity by serving 55.1 million in FY 2024–25.
The new terminal is scheduled to open next month, and the airport is set to become a pivotal hub for domestic and international air travel. Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airports, noted, “Together, we are poised to transform the travel experience for millions, providing convenience and global connectivity.”
IndiGo to connect more global cities including Manchester and Amsterdam.
IndiGo’s rapid growth is evident in its expanding fleet of over 400 aircraft, with more than 2,200 daily flights linking 90+ domestic and 40+ international destinations. In FY 2024–25 alone, IndiGo inducted 58 aircraft and flew 118 million passengers. The airline also flies 280+ weekly flights to five UAE cities from 20 Indian locations.
In a major international push, IndiGo will launch services to Manchester and Amsterdam in July 2025, operated initially via Norse Atlantic Airways’ aircraft until its Airbus A350-900s are inducted for long-haul travel.
