The much-awaited Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) airport is all set to start flight operations and take off into a new era of air travel. Sprawling across 1,160 hectares near Panvel, it features promising modern design, cutting-edge facilities, and eco-friendly features. With this, NMIA is poised to ease congestion at the city’s existing airport while offering a seamless, futuristic travel experience for millions of domestic and international passengers.
Today at around 3 PM, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will tour the recently built airport, and at 3:30 PM, it will be formally inaugurated. NMIA is Mumbai's second international airport and India's largest greenfield airport project, with an estimated cost of INR 19,650 crore. The airport is one of the nation's most ambitious aviation projects, with an astounding 1,160 hectares of space that can eventually handle 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo and 90 million people annually.
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Location and accessibilityThe airport is strategically located in Panvel Taluka, on the outskirts of Mumbai, approximately 46 km from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and about 120 km from Pune. It sits between National Highway 48 and Amra Marg, providing easy access to the Mumbai-Pune corridor. A new link road along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, bypassing Lonavala, is expected to reduce travel time from Pune to NMIA by roughly two and a half hours, significantly enhancing regional accessibility.
The airport will reduce the amount of time commuters from neighbouring districts like Vashi, Alibaug, Thane, Karjat, and Lonavala must spend going to Mumbai's current airport. NMIA is connected to north and central Mumbai by the Sion-Panvel Highway, Palm Beach Road, Amra Marg (NH348A), and NH548, while the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) offers a quick route from South Mumbai. Currently under development, a 21.8 km Ulwe Coastal Road will create a continuous corridor from western to southern Mumbai by connecting the western shore to the airport via the Atal Setu.
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Airport design and facilitiesDesigned by Zaha Hadid Architects, the London-based studio behind Beijing Daxing International Airport, NMIA’s terminal draws inspiration from the lotus, India’s national flower. Glass façades and patterned lattice screens (jaali) allow natural light to illuminate interiors while keeping spaces cool. Complementing this architectural elegance, the airport will showcase artworks inspired by Maharashtra’s history and culture, housed in two museums beyond the security check area, though details of these are still under development.
NMIA is also designed for sustainable operations. Solar power installations generating around 47 MW, dedicated SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) storage, EV bus services, and even water taxi connectivity, which is a first in India, make the airport unique and one-of-a-kind. Also, there will be an Automated People Mover (APM) available that will connect all passenger terminals and city-side infrastructure to ensure smooth transit within the airport complex.
Terminals, runways, and passenger capacityAs per the reports, NMIA will handle 20 million passengers annually in its first phase, which will eventually scale up to 90 million once it completes all the five phases. There will be four terminals and two parallel runways, which have been designed to manage both domestic and international flights efficiently. Plus, a dedicated VVIP terminal, for which construction will reportedly start in 2026 and reach completion by 2030, will cater to celebrities, business leaders, and top officials, thereby positioning Navi Mumbai as a hub for private air travel.
Airlines and flight operationsIndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air are the first confirmed carriers to fly out of NMIA. By March 2026, IndiGo would have 79 daily flights, including 14 foreign routes, and by November 2026, it will have over 100 daily flights to more than 15 cities. By mid-2026, Air India Express will have 55 daily flights, including five international ones, up from its initial 20 domestic departures. Akasa Air will start out with about 100 domestic flights per week before growing to over 300 domestic and 50 foreign flights per week.
The airport has been assigned the IATA code NMI and ICAO code VANM, distinguishing it from Mumbai’s existing CSMIA, which continues to use BOM. Travellers are advised to ensure that NMI appears on booking platforms once commercial operations begin.
Regional impactNMIA is expected to decongest CSMIA, provide faster access for passengers from surrounding towns, and enhance overall air connectivity in the region. By reducing travel times for domestic and international passengers, the airport will offer a modern, efficient alternative to Mumbai’s current airport, benefiting both leisure and business travellers.
Today at around 3 PM, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will tour the recently built airport, and at 3:30 PM, it will be formally inaugurated. NMIA is Mumbai's second international airport and India's largest greenfield airport project, with an estimated cost of INR 19,650 crore. The airport is one of the nation's most ambitious aviation projects, with an astounding 1,160 hectares of space that can eventually handle 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo and 90 million people annually.
Read more: This entire country could be taken on rent for a day! Unbelievable facts to know
Location and accessibilityThe airport is strategically located in Panvel Taluka, on the outskirts of Mumbai, approximately 46 km from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and about 120 km from Pune. It sits between National Highway 48 and Amra Marg, providing easy access to the Mumbai-Pune corridor. A new link road along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, bypassing Lonavala, is expected to reduce travel time from Pune to NMIA by roughly two and a half hours, significantly enhancing regional accessibility.
The airport will reduce the amount of time commuters from neighbouring districts like Vashi, Alibaug, Thane, Karjat, and Lonavala must spend going to Mumbai's current airport. NMIA is connected to north and central Mumbai by the Sion-Panvel Highway, Palm Beach Road, Amra Marg (NH348A), and NH548, while the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) offers a quick route from South Mumbai. Currently under development, a 21.8 km Ulwe Coastal Road will create a continuous corridor from western to southern Mumbai by connecting the western shore to the airport via the Atal Setu.
Read more: IMD forecasts sharp temperature fall: Heavy rainfall, and cold winds sweep the region
Airport design and facilitiesDesigned by Zaha Hadid Architects, the London-based studio behind Beijing Daxing International Airport, NMIA’s terminal draws inspiration from the lotus, India’s national flower. Glass façades and patterned lattice screens (jaali) allow natural light to illuminate interiors while keeping spaces cool. Complementing this architectural elegance, the airport will showcase artworks inspired by Maharashtra’s history and culture, housed in two museums beyond the security check area, though details of these are still under development.
NMIA is also designed for sustainable operations. Solar power installations generating around 47 MW, dedicated SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) storage, EV bus services, and even water taxi connectivity, which is a first in India, make the airport unique and one-of-a-kind. Also, there will be an Automated People Mover (APM) available that will connect all passenger terminals and city-side infrastructure to ensure smooth transit within the airport complex.
Terminals, runways, and passenger capacityAs per the reports, NMIA will handle 20 million passengers annually in its first phase, which will eventually scale up to 90 million once it completes all the five phases. There will be four terminals and two parallel runways, which have been designed to manage both domestic and international flights efficiently. Plus, a dedicated VVIP terminal, for which construction will reportedly start in 2026 and reach completion by 2030, will cater to celebrities, business leaders, and top officials, thereby positioning Navi Mumbai as a hub for private air travel.
Airlines and flight operationsIndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air are the first confirmed carriers to fly out of NMIA. By March 2026, IndiGo would have 79 daily flights, including 14 foreign routes, and by November 2026, it will have over 100 daily flights to more than 15 cities. By mid-2026, Air India Express will have 55 daily flights, including five international ones, up from its initial 20 domestic departures. Akasa Air will start out with about 100 domestic flights per week before growing to over 300 domestic and 50 foreign flights per week.
The airport has been assigned the IATA code NMI and ICAO code VANM, distinguishing it from Mumbai’s existing CSMIA, which continues to use BOM. Travellers are advised to ensure that NMI appears on booking platforms once commercial operations begin.
Regional impactNMIA is expected to decongest CSMIA, provide faster access for passengers from surrounding towns, and enhance overall air connectivity in the region. By reducing travel times for domestic and international passengers, the airport will offer a modern, efficient alternative to Mumbai’s current airport, benefiting both leisure and business travellers.
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