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Relief for Mumbai Air Traffic as Navi Mumbai Airport Opens

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has officially started its commercial operations with its first passenger flights. This is a big step for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which has faced heavy air traffic pressure for many years.

On the first day, the airport began operations from 8 am to 8 pm and handled around 30 domestic flight movements (arrivals and departures). Four airlines are operating on day one — IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air India Express, and Star Air. All flights on the opening day are domestic.

The first arrival at NMIA was an IndiGo flight from Bengaluru, which landed at 8 am and was welcomed with a ceremonial water salute. Shortly after, the airport handled its first departure — an IndiGo flight to Hyderabad at 8:40 am, completing its first full flight cycle.

Mumbai’s existing airport currently handles around 950 flights every day and operates with a single runway, which has caused long-standing congestion. With NMIA starting services, much-needed capacity has been added, helping reduce pressure on Mumbai’s main airport and improving air connectivity in the region.

December 30, 2025
10:40 IST

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