IndiGo Flight Marks the Start of Operations at Navi Mumbai Airport

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), a major new aviation hub in Maharashtra, India, began its operational journey on the airside on December 25, 2025, marking a significant milestone for Indian civil aviation. The airport clocked its first official commercial arrival today, and the moment was celebrated with great enthusiasm, including the ceremonial tradition of a water cannon salute — a customary honor for inaugural flights.

The historic arrival took place at 08:00 hrs, when IndiGo’s flight 6E460 from Bengaluru touched down on the new runways, greeted by aviation staff, dignitaries, and airport officials. Fire tenders positioned along the taxiway sprayed intersecting arches of water high over the aircraft — a symbolic salute to welcome the first scheduled commercial service at NMIA.

Shortly after this landmark arrival, the airport handled its first departure as well. At 08:40 hrs, IndiGo flight 6E882 departed for Hyderabad, completing the airport’s initial arrival–departure cycle. The smooth execution of both movements underscored the readiness of the facility to begin regular flight operations.

Sharing real‑time updates on social media platforms, the Adani Group, which developed and operates the airport, described the day as a transformative moment for the country’s aviation sector. In its announcement, the group conveyed that “a new era for Indian aviation takes shape,” underlining the extensive planning, coordination, and construction that preceded this first flight. They further noted that Navi Mumbai International Airport has been designed and built to cater to as many as 90 million passengers annually once all development phases are complete, a scale that reflects both domestic demand and long‑term growth aspirations.

Ahead of the inaugural operations, the airport hosted a series of celebrations on Christmas Eve, featuring a dazzling drone show after dusk. As night fell, the sky above the airport came alive with formations crafted by hundreds of synchronized drones. These aerial displays depicted intricate patterns ranging from a blossoming lotus flower — a symbol of purity and renewal — to representations of the airport’s own emblem and interior design motifs, electrifying the festive atmosphere and signaling the dawn of an important addition to India’s aviation landscape.

With commercial operations now underway, multiple airlines are preparing to connect Navi Mumbai to major cities across India. Akasa Air has announced that it will operate flights from NMIA to four destinations at the outset: Delhi, Kochi, Ahmedabad, and Goa (Mopa). This route network will provide vital links between the new airport and significant business, tourism, and cultural hubs.

IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, also outlined ambitious plans for the new airport, establishing services to a broad set of destinations, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangalore, and Nagpur. These routes facilitate both business and leisure travel and will contribute to the dispersal of air traffic across the region.

Adding further to the airport’s connectivity, Air India Express joined the inaugural day’s operations as well, launching direct services to Bengaluru and Delhi. The entry of multiple carriers on the very first day illustrates strong airline confidence in NMIA’s capacity and strategic importance.

The launch of Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to relieve persistent pressure on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), the long‑established aviation hub that serves Mumbai, India’s financial capital. CSMIA has consistently faced congestion due to high passenger volumes and limited expansion space in its urban setting. NMIA’s addition creates a dual‑airport system for the Mumbai region — a model found in other global aviation centers — which is projected to improve operational efficiency, reduce delays, and elevate the overall travel experience for millions of passengers.

Airport authorities and planners emphasize that the twin‑airport configuration will not only decongest runways and terminals at the older facility but also drive economic activity in the wider metropolitan area. The new airport’s construction has already stimulated job creation and infrastructure development in surrounding districts, from transportation links to hospitality and logistics sectors.

Looking ahead, aviation analysts project that by 2032, Mumbai’s combined airport system — encompassing NMIA and CSMIA — will handle upwards of 140 to 160 million passengers annually, positioning it alongside other major international metropolises that utilize dual hubs to manage high traffic flow. Cities such as Dubai, New York, and London have long employed this strategy, and Mumbai’s adoption reflects its aspirations to be counted among leading global aviation markets in terms of capacity and connectivity.

The commencement of airside operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport therefore represents far more than the arrival of a single flight. It symbolizes years of coordinated effort across government, industry, and private enterprise to prepare India’s infrastructure for a future of rapid growth, enhanced access, and widened opportunities for passengers and businesses alike.

If you want, I can also provide a shorter press release version, bullet point summary, or social media posts for this event.