India's New Navi Mumbai International Airport Opens

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI), Mumbai’s new $2 billion air gateway, has formally opened, with the first commercial flights expected in December.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over an Oct. 8 inauguration ceremony for NMI, which was built to ease capacity pressure at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM). NMI will have capacity to handle 20 million annual passengers. 

The airport was built via a public-private partnership (PPP) between Adani Airports Holdings and the state of Maharashtra’s government. Adani, which also runs BOM, holds a 74% ownership stake in NMI. Maharashtra owns 26%.

BOM is India’s second-busiest airport, handling 54.8 million passengers in 2024, up 6.3% over 2023. Indian officials have said BOM is hitting capacity limits.

Adani has raised $1 billion to upgrade BOM. A portion of traffic moving from BOM to NMI will enable modernization work at BOM to move forward.

The two airports will be operated “in synergy in a twin airport system … easing pressure on BOM,” Adani said. NMI opens with a single runway and one terminal. “Over time, the airport will scale to four runways and multiple terminals, with a dedicated cargo terminal and state-of-the-art facilities for perishables and express cargo, boosting India’s trade and logistics ecosystem,” Adani said.

Adani and the Indian government expect the airport to eventually be able to handle 90 million passengers annually. NMI sits on 2,866 acres of land, allowing for ample space to expand.

Modi toured NMI’s facilities and then delivered a speech tying the airport’s opening with “the momentum of India’s development journey,” adding, “Navi Mumbai International Airport is a project that reflects the vision of a developed India.”

He noted that India in 2014 had 74 airports and now has more than 160. “It was essential to build new airports across the country,” Modi said.

Adani Airport Holdings Director Jeet Adani said NMI “is a landmark in India’s aviation journey, uniting cutting-edge technology, sustainability and a passenger-first experience. By complementing [BOM], it reinforces Mumbai’s role as a global aviation hub.”

IndiGo is expected to be the first airline to launch flights from NMI, with plans to initially serve more than 15 domestic destinations.

Adani said non-aeronautical revenue, “which can account for up to 40% of revenues at global hubs,” will be a focus for NMI. The airport will include 19,375 ft.² of duty-free shopping.

NMI will also seek to generate revenue from the general public. “The landside area will offer entertainment and dining zones accessible to non-passengers, expanding the customer base,” Adani said.

Air cargo will be “a core focus” of NMI, Adani added. Modi said the airport “will connect Maharashtra’s farmers to supermarkets in Europe and the Middle East, enabling fresh produce, fruits, vegetables and fishery products to reach global markets swiftly.”