Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, has received a big gift today. Commercial operations formally commenced at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Thursday, December 25. Earlier on Wednesday evening, a grand drone show was organized in the sky of Navi Mumbai with the help of 1,515 drones, which grabbed everyone’s attention. The drone show featured figures like the airport logo, a 3D blooming lotus, a green airport, the rise of India and a plane flying over Mumbai.
The drone show became a special attraction
Persons with disabilities, airport employees, youth sportspersons and a large number of local people were present to watch the show, which was organized before the commencement of commercial flights. Navi Mumbai Airport’s design is inspired by India’s national flower, the lotus, which can be clearly seen both in this drone show and in the airport’s architecture.
First flights of the first day
The first flight at Navi Mumbai International Airport was IndiGo’s 6E460, which landed here from Bengaluru at 8 am. After this IndiGo flight 6E882 departed for Hyderabad at 8:40 am, becoming the first commercial flight to take off from this airport.
Limited performance in early stages
According to the airport management, in the first month of operation, NMIA will operate from 8 am to 8 pm i.e. 12 hours. During this period, around 23 scheduled flights will be operated per day with a maximum of 10 flight movements per hour.
24 hours operation from February 2026
The airport said that from the beginning Indigo, Air India Express and Akasa Air will connect Navi Mumbai to 16 cities in the country. The airport will be operational 24 hours a day from February 2026 and is expected to operate around 34 flights per day.
Preparations for security and partnership complete
An Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) trial is underway at NMIA, involving airlines and security agencies. CISF has been deployed for airport security from 29 October 2025.
The airport has been developed on PPP model
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated NMIA on October 8. The airport has been developed on a public-private partnership model between MIAL and CIDCO, a subsidiary of Adani Airport Holdings Limited. Adani Group holds 74% stake in it and CIDCO holds 26% stake.