Mumbai: NMIA Ready for Christmas Day Launch; Flight Bookings Expected to Begin After November 15
Mumbai, 15th November 2025: In a major boost to western India’s aviation network, the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is preparing to handle its first wave of commercial passengers on December 25, with airlines set to open ticket bookings soon after November 15. The much-awaited airport, inaugurated on October 8 and built at a cost of Rs 19,650 crore, is now in the final countdown to operational readiness.
The initial rollout at NMIA will feature IndiGo, Air India Express, and Akasa Air as launch carriers, all beginning with domestic services for the first three months.
IndiGo, the first airline to officially confirm operations, will start with 36 daily flights across 15 cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. The airline has a long-term plan to scale up to 158 daily flights, including 14 international routes.
Air India Express will begin with 20 flights per day, enhancing domestic connectivity to cities such as Delhi, Ahmedabad, Goa, Kerala, and Kolkata.
Akasa Air is expected to operate around 100 weekly flights in the opening phase. By winter 2026, Akasa plans to expand aggressively to 300 domestic and 50 international flights per week, with at least 8–10 early-stage flights likely to be international.
Security and Systems Fully Deployed
A crucial milestone was crossed with the CISF taking charge of airport security, paving the way for final safety validations. NMIA is now undergoing routine checks, runway calibration, terminal trials, and integrated system testing, before receiving its final go-ahead for commercial operations.
Once fully operational, NMIA will boast:
-Three passenger terminals
-Two parallel runways
-Annual capacity of 90 million passengers, placing it among the largest airport complexes in Asia
Airlines are expected to open domestic flight bookings roughly 30 days before the December 25 commencement, in line with standard aviation norms. International booking schedules will be announced separately, depending on airline deployment plans and regulatory clearances.
A New Era for Mumbai’s Air Traffic
The launch of NMIA is anticipated to significantly ease the load on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, one of India’s busiest gateways. With high-demand domestic routes prioritized during the first phase, the new airport is set to transform regional air travel, improve metro-to-metro accessibility, and provide long-term relief to Mumbai’s congested skies.
