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This is an archive article published on December 30, 2024

Navi Mumbai International Airport: What does it offer Pune?

Navi Mumbai International Airport promises reduced travel times and enhanced cargo capabilities for Pune’s industries.

navi mumbai international airportFirst commercial aircraft landing on the runway of Navi Mumbai International Airport. (Express Photo by Narendra Vaskar)

Navi Mumbai International Airport welcomed its first commercial flight on Sunday as part of trial operations, marking a significant development not only for Mumbai but also for Pune. With Navi Mumbai being closer to Pune than the Mumbai city airport, the newly constructed airport is set to change how Pune residents work and travel.

According to Google Maps, the drive from Pune to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport takes approximately three hours and 30 minutes during non-peak hours, while the journey to Navi Mumbai’s D B Patil International Airport would take about two hours and 20 minutes.

Aviation analyst Dhairyashil Vandekar told The Indian Express, “The Navi Mumbai airport will definitely be a game changer for that part of Maharashtra. For a segment of travellers from Pune, it will be much more convenient, considering the reduction in travel time. Many from Pune will prefer flights from Navi Mumbai as it is easy to access via the Expressway.”

“The Lohegaon airport in Pune faces significant constraints, particularly for long-distance international flights to Europe and America, which cannot operate due to runway limitations. Passengers often have to travel to Hyderabad, Bangalore, or Delhi for these flights. For residents in areas like Baner, it takes about one and a half hours to reach Lohegaon, but they can reach Navi Mumbai in the same or slightly more time. As it is a new airport, people will prefer going there,” Vandekar said.

Also, Pune airport lacks the capacity for larger cargo planes, which will be accommodated at Navi Mumbai airport, boosting the logistics sector, he added.

Boon for industries

Cargo handling, especially for fresh agricultural commodities, has been a challenge for many importers and exporters. Rohan Ursal, director of Purandar Highlands, a farmer producer company specialising in figs and custard apples, said logistics costs would decrease significantly once Navi Mumbai airport becomes operational.

“We deal with highly perishable commodities. If our consignment is to fly out on Wednesday, we need to start our work on Monday. This time would reduce once Navi Mumbai airport starts operations,” Ursal said. He anticipates a cost reduction of at least 10-15 per cent for exports from Navi Mumbai compared to Mumbai.

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For the Chakan industrial belt, Navi Mumbai airport will cut travel time by over an hour. As an international airport, it addresses the urgent need for better connectivity in Chakan and Talegaon, which have developed as the nerve centre of Pune’s automotive and auto ancillary industries.

Both areas have German multinational companies and the nearest international airport for them is the one in Mumbai.

An industrialist from the area said, “Even if we overlook the cargo aspect, Navi Mumbai airport will help reduce travel time for visitors. The industry has long sought an international airport in Pune, and while that has not materialised, Navi Mumbai airport will facilitate both passenger and cargo movement from Chakan and Talegaon.”

Pune has long been recognised as one of the country’s export hubs, but the absence of large cargo operations has long been a pain point. Although multiple locations have been identified for a new airport, progress has been slow.

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Pune International Airport offers direct flights to three international destinations: Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok. But Navi Mumbai airport is expected to serve many more international routes.

In May, Navi Mumbai airport, operated by an Adani subsidiary, faced challenges in onboarding major airlines like Air India and IndiGo to shift operations from the Mumbai airport, despite offering prime slots.

However, Vandekar said, “I believe airlines will operate flights from Navi Mumbai airport. Previously, airlines had to be competitive, but now airports must also be competitive. If Navi Mumbai airport offers good, competitive rates, airlines will have to shift their operations here.”

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More

Partha Sarathi Biwas is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express with 10+ years of experience in reporting on Agriculture, Commodities and Developmental issues. He has been with The Indian Express since 2011 and earlier worked with DNA. Partha's report about Farmers Producer Companies (FPC) as well long pieces on various agricultural issues have been cited by various academic publications including those published by the Government of India. He is often invited as a visiting faculty to various schools of journalism to talk about development journalism and rural reporting. In his spare time Partha trains for marathons and has participated in multiple marathons and half marathons. ... Read More


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