WATCH: IndiGo flight from Bengaluru gets water cannon salute as Navi Mumbai International Airport begins operations

On the eve of the launch, a spectacular drone show featuring 1,515 drones lit up the sky above the airport, displaying coordinated formations such as lotus blooms, the airport logo and themes reflecting India’s rising aviation capabilities.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Navi Mumbai International Airport commenced its airside operations on 25 December 2025 with the arrival of its first commercial flight. The aircraft was accorded a ceremonial water cannon salute on arrival.

The inaugural arrival, IndiGo flight 6E460 from… pic.twitter.com/4SCwm28g1U

— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2025

The airport opened with scheduled flights from major carriers, including IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and Star Air, with about 30 domestic flights operating on its first day.

Passengers on the first flight that took off from Navi Mumbai Airport held a placard inside the plane seeking the naming of the airport after late socialist leader D B Patil. (Express Photo by Zeeshan Sheikh)

The first commercial arrival was an IndiGo flight from Bengaluru, followed by its first departure to Hyderabad soon after.

Airport to schedule 24 daily departures, 13 destinations

The airport will handle 15 scheduled departures on the first day. During the initial phase, NMIA will function for 12 hours daily, from 8 am to 8 pm. The airport can manage up to 10 aircraft movements per hour and will soon have up to 24 daily departures to 13 destinations.

From February next year, NMIA plans to gradually move to round-the-clock operations as more flights are added. 

Ahead of the opening, a special drone show with 1,515 drones lit up the sky, displaying the airport logo and other colourful formations to celebrate the launch.

We have opened up our skies to the world.

The first touchdown at #NMIA marks a defining moment as Navi Mumbai International Airport welcomes its first commercial flight with a ceremonial water cannon salute, officially commencing scheduled passenger operations.… pic.twitter.com/EPCGMsy6jy

— Navi Mumbai International Airport (@navimumairport) December 25, 2025

The airport is being developed by Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd, in which the Adani Group holds 74 per cent stake and CIDCO owns the remaining 26 per cent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the airport on October 8 this year.