IndiGo to commence flight operations from Navi Mumbai International Airport on December 25
IndiGo on Saturday announced that, its commercial operations from the newly inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), will commence from December 25.
India’s largest domestic airline will begin with a 10-city domestic network connecting Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, North Goa (Mopa), Jaipur, Nagpur, Cochin and Mangalore.
The launch marks the strongest airline commitment yet for NMIA — Mumbai’s long-awaited second airport, inaugurated earlier this year to ease pressure on the saturated Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
Developed by the Adani Group, NMIA is expected to open a new aviation gateway for the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region and strengthen connectivity across western India.
Operations start Dec 25; scale-up to follow through 2026
IndiGo will be the first carrier to commence full-scale commercial services from NMIA. The airline, in May earlier this year, had confirmed that its operations will start with 18 daily departures (36 ATMs) at NMIA.
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The carrier will then progressively scale up, as per the expansion roadmap it first outlined in May and has now reaffirmed.Under this plan:
- IndiGo expects to reach 79 daily departures (158 ATMs) — including 14 international flights
- Scale up to over 100 daily departures (200 ATMs) by March 2026
- Expand further to 140 daily departures (280 ATMs), including 30 international services, by November 2026
- These are future milestones, following the December 25 operational launch.
IndiGo and Adani frame partnership as sector catalyst
Announcing its launch plan, IndiGo in May said: “This partnership will fuel aviation growth in the country, making it a key driver for India to become the third largest aviation economy by 2030.”
Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, added: “Our alliance signals towards achievement of complete operational readiness on both sides to take next steps. This expansion underscores our dedication to catering to the evolving needs of our aspirational travellers and further contributing to the growth of India’s booming aviation sector. The new flights from the brand-new NMIA will elevate the travel experience of our customers while enjoying affordable, on-time hassle-free services on our unparalleled network.”
Arun Bansal, CEO, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), said: “Together, we are poised to transform travel experience for millions of passengers, providing them both convenience and enhanced travel options. Our collaboration is set to strengthen NMIA’s role as an aviation gateway for the region and for travellers nationally and internationally.”
A $2.1 billion aviation gateway for Mumbai
Estimated at $2.1 billion, NMIA features a lotus-inspired terminal building and an initial annual capacity of 20 million passengers. The airport has been designed for phased expansion to 90 million passengers over the next decade.
With both NMIA and CSMIA operated by the Adani Group, the conglomerate now oversees Mumbai’s entire airport ecosystem.
Authorities also plan to develop an “aero city” around NMIA, modelled on international hub airports in Dubai, Singapore and London, to build non-aeronautical revenue and attract commercial infrastructure.
Initial airline consultations earlier this year — when carriers were advised to prepare for phased shifts and a staged international launch — laid the groundwork for today’s operational announcement.
