Air India Express operations at NMIA will boost international transit and enhance connectivity between Mumbai and destinations across India and abroad.
Beginning with the first phase of operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA, IATA code: NMI), the Air India company announced on Tuesday that it would start operating commercial flights from the airport. This collaboration supports India’s goal of being the third-largest air passenger market in the world by 2030 and demonstrates the Air India group’s commitment to improving connectivity both domestically and internationally.
20 daily departures or 40 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) from and to Navi Mumbai International Airport, linking 15 Indian cities, would be operated by Air India Express, the value carrier of the Air India group, during the first phase of the new airport’s operations. By mid-2026, the Air India company plans to increase its number of daily departures to 55 (110 ATMs), including up to five international flights per day from NMIA.
The Air India company wants to effortlessly link passengers to important domestic and international destinations by expanding its operations to 60 daily departures (120 ATMs) from the new airport by winter 2026.
As Mumbai joins the group of global cities with multiple airports, we are excited to start operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport, stated Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Air India. Given its advantageous geographic location, we are pleased to collaborate with Adani Airports to develop NMIA as a hub for both passenger and cargo international transit as well as a point of connection to the rest of India. We at the Air India group are honored to be at the forefront of using India to connect the West to the East and beyond, and our development at NMIA will help India become a major hub for international aviation.
Air India joins NMIA to boost global connectivity and twin-airport strategy.
“We are thrilled to welcome Air India Group to Navi Mumbai International Airport as one of our valued airline partners,” stated Arun Bansal, Chief Executive Officer of Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. Their worldwide vision and ambitious expansion ambitions are exactly in line with our goal of establishing NMIA as a standard in international aviation. Through this partnership, Mumbai’s connectivity landscape will be redefined, and India’s twin-airport strategy will be strengthened. NMIA’s adoption of technology to improve efficiency and provide passengers with the best possible experience will be crucial to providing smooth and excellent passenger journeys for many years to come.
The planned operations of Air India Express at NMIA will facilitate smooth international transits through NMIA and greatly increase connectivity to and from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to destinations both inside and outside of India. The five-phase construction of Navi Mumbai International Airport is anticipated to carry 0.5 million metric tons (MMT) of cargo and seat 20 million passengers annually (MPPA) during its first phase. When NMIA is finished, it will be able to service 90 MPPA and manage 3.2 MMT of cargo each year.
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In 2019, Adani Airport Holdings Limited was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd., the Adani Group’s flagship business. As the highest bidder for the development, management, and operation of six airports—Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Jaipur, Guwahati, and Thiruvananthapuram—the Adani Group made its first foray into the airport industry. Additionally, concession agreements for each of the six airports were inked with the Airport Authority of India. Mumbai’s airport, which is now in use, is also an Adani airport. (With ANI’s input).