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IndiGo Will Be First Airline to Operate at Navi Mumbai International Airport 

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India’s aviation landscape is poised for a game-changing milestone as IndiGo is set to become the first airline to take off from the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The move marks not only the debut of a new aviation hub for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region but also the latest chapter in IndiGo’s aggressive expansion strategy to reshape regional and international connectivity, one that has been in the works for some time

IndiGo’s inaugural schedule includes 18 daily departures (equivalent to 36 Air Traffic Movements), connecting NMIA to over 15 domestic destinations from day one. But this is only the beginning. By November 2025, the airline aims to scale up operations to 79 daily departures, including 14 international flights. That number will cross 100 by March 2026, and by November 2026, the airline plans 140 daily departures—30 of which will be international. These numbers reflect more than ambition; they signal strategic alignment with India’s goal of becoming the world’s third-largest aviation market by 2030. 

The collaboration between IndiGo and Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. (AAHL)—India’s largest airport operator under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model—is designed to fast-track this vision. “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. 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,” said Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo. 

Arun Bansal, CEO of AAHL, sees NMIA emerging as a major transfer hub. “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,” he said. 

NMIA itself is a feat of modern infrastructure. Backed by a $2.1 billion investment, the airport is expected to decongest the saturated Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), also operated by the Adani Group. The lotus-shaped terminal building, echoing India’s national flower, will initially cater to 20 million passengers annually, with phased plans to ramp up to 90 million over the next decade. 

The airport’s significance stretches beyond aviation. It is envisioned as the nucleus of an “aero city,” complete with business parks and commercial infrastructure that will create non-aviation revenue streams and catalyze regional development. The co-location of BOM and NMIA under a single operator provides unique synergies in logistics, management, and passenger distribution—essential for a city that hosts over 21 million residents and faces intense infrastructure pressures. 

For IndiGo, this early mover advantage allows it to embed itself into the new airport’s DNA from the ground up. With the successful test landing of its Airbus A320 in December 2024—marked by a ceremonial water cannon salute—the airline has already set the tone for operations. The commencement of flights from NMIA represents more than route expansion; it is a signal of intent to dominate future hubs and influence passenger flow across key corridors. 

In the broader scheme, IndiGo’s leap into NMIA is a strategic masterstroke—leveraging infrastructure expansion, policy momentum, and first-mover advantage in one of India’s most important urban markets. As the skies over Navi Mumbai prepare to welcome their first wave of travellers, the alignment of ambition between India’s largest airline and its newest airport operator could well redefine the trajectory of Indian aviation. 

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