1st flight lands at Navi Mumbai airport as commercial ops begin
The inaugural arrival of IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru was welcomed with a ceremonial water cannon salute, a traditional aviation gesture reserved for landmark occasions.
3 min readMumbaiUpdated: Dec 26, 2025 05:20 AM IST
Navi Mumbai International Airport opened its doors to passengers with IndiGo’s Bengaluru flight landing at 8 am, followed by the first departure to Hyderabad. (Express Photo by Zeeshan Sheikh)
The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) began its long-awaited commercial operations on Thursday with the arrival of its first scheduled passenger flight at 8 am, marking a major milestone in India’s civil aviation expansion and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s transport infrastructure.
The inaugural arrival of IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru was welcomed with a ceremonial water cannon salute, a traditional aviation gesture reserved for landmark occasions. The landing marked NMIA’s first commercial touchdown after years of construction, regulatory clearances, and phased readiness checks.
This was followed by the airport’s first departure at 8,40 am, when IndiGo flight 6E882 took off for Hyderabad, completing NMIA’s inaugural arrival-departure cycle and formally ushering in scheduled passenger services at the greenfield airport.
The commencement of commercial operations at NMIA is expected to provide operational relief to the congested Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), which has been operating near capacity for several years. NMIA is being positioned as a key aviation hub to accommodate future passenger growth, improve regional connectivity, and support airlines with additional slots and operational flexibility.
Industry stakeholders say the opening of NMIA marks a critical step in strengthening air travel infrastructure in western India, even as access connectivity, and surrounding infrastructure continue to be developed in phases. Over the coming weeks, the airport is expected to gradually scale up flight operations and destinations.
Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani welcomed the first set of passengers arriving at the Navi Mumbai airport. The first day marked operations of 48 flights (both arrivals and departures) connecting nine domestic destinations with the NMIA saying that it handled over 4,000 passengers in total.
Developed and operated by Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), NMIA is among India’s largest greenfield airport projects.
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While Gautam Adani welcomed the passengers from the inaugural flight, he also joined a ceremonial walk through the departure terminal with airport employees, community representatives and Adani Foundation beneficiaries. The launch concluded with a flag-hoisting ceremony led by Param Vir Chakra awardees Captain Bana Singh and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar, followed by the national anthem. Among others present at the event were leading sportspersons Suryakumar Yadav, Mithali Raj and Sunil Chhetri.
According to the statement issued by NMIA, Gautam Adani called it “a proud day for Mumbai and for India” and said that NMIA stands as a promise of what the country can achieve when ambition is guided by purpose and delivered with speed and execution.
Jeet Adani, Director, AAHL, said NMIA establishes a resilient multi-airport system for the MMR, boosting capacity, enhancing passenger experience and future-proofing the region’s aviation growth.
NMIAL is a public private partnership (PPP) between Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), a subsidiary of Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL), which holds the majority stake of 74 per cent, while the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO), a Government of Maharashtra undertaking, holds the remaining 26 per cent.
Naresh S is a Trainee Correspondent with The Indian Express, based out of Mumbai. A graduate of Xavier’s Institute of Communication (XIC), he has an avid interest in civic issues and policy-related domains. At present, he reports on the transport sector, covering suburban railways, BEST bus serives and aviation with a propensity for in-depth analyses and researched-focused reportage.
Core Coverage Areas:
Naresh reports on Mumbai’s urban mobility and public systems, with a focus on transport infrastructure, commuter safety, and policy execution. His reporting is research-driven and data-backed, aimed at explaining how large public systems function or fail, for everyday commuters.
Transport (Primary Beat):
His main beat is transport, covering Mumbai’s suburban railways and BEST bus services. His reportage in this domain spans detailed coverage of events like the Mumbra train accident and its safety implications, as well as follow-up reporting on long-standing gaps such as the delayed implementation of automatic doors on Mumbai local trains. He also tracks infrastructure projects, operational disruptions, and policy decisions affecting daily commuters, often through explainer-style stories.
Aviation (Secondary Beat):
Naresh also covers aviation and airport infrastructure, including reporting on the Navi Mumbai International Airport project. His aviation coverage has included the IndiGo flight disruptions in December 2025, focusing on passenger impact, regulatory response, and systemic issues within civil aviation operations. ... Read More
