Navi Mumbai International Airport to begin operations in 2025; know important details—

Mumbai's aviation landscape is set for a major shift with the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) opening on April 17, 2025. Located in Ulwe, the airport will begin operations in phases, starting with Terminal 1 and one runway.

Expected to ease congestion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, NMIA will handle 2-3 million passengers in its initial months. Full commercial operations will begin in May 2025, with flights ramping up by October.

• Launch Timeline: Domestic flights to begin by May 2025; international flights to follow in July 2025.

• Air Traffic Decongestion: 150 flight slots to be shifted from Mumbai’s existing airport to Navi Mumbai by October 2025.

• Impact on Mumbai Airport: Terminal 1 at Vile Parle to close for reconstruction, with some operations moving to NMIA.

• Flight Relocation: Indian airlines to move selected flights to Navi Mumbai, starting with the winter schedule in late October.

• Passenger Growth: Expected to handle 2-3 million passengers in the initial months.

• Regulatory Approvals: Awaiting Aerodrome license, expected soon.

• Test Flight: First successful validation flight completed in December 2024 to ensure operational readiness.

• Capacity & Infrastructure: Designed for 90 million passengers annually; Phase 1 includes one terminal and a dual-runway system, ready by March 31, 2025. Seamless connectivity with road, rail, and metro networks.

• Game Changer: Will reduce congestion at Mumbai Airport, expand international routes, and boost economic growth. Passengers will have two airport options: BOM and NMI.

• Future Prospects: First phase set to serve 20 million passengers per year, with further expansion in future phases. NMIA aims to compete as a global aviation hub.