‘Came only to explore’: Bengaluru man takes first flight to Navi Mumbai airport as it begins operations

Once fully completed, NMIA is expected to handle 90 million passengers per annum.

Operations at the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) officially began on Tuesday as the first commercial flight from Bengaluru touched down, marking a key milestone for Maharashtra’s aviation network.

Passengers on the inaugural flight expressed excitement about the launch. One traveller, Ram Prasad, said he had booked the ticket nearly two months ago specifically to experience the new airport with his family.

“We came from Bangalore just to explore the Navi Mumbai airport. I thank Mr Gautam Adani, who personally welcomed the passengers. I am very happy. Everything is good," he told ANI.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Navi Mumbai International Airport to begin operations today

A passenger, Ram Prasad, says, "We came from Bangalore, and we booked this trip specifically to explore the Navi Mumbai airport.... First of all, I thank Mr Adani. He came and welcomed all the… https://t.co/1zXMD15il4pic.twitter.com/R1yAOQFf5t — ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2025

Another passenger, Sunil Bajaj, described the airport as futuristic. “It feels very good that an international airport has come to Navi Mumbai. The driveway is beautiful and spacious. It will be futuristic," he said.

Ahead of the start of commercial operations, Jeet Adani shared a video of a drone show organised for workers involved in building the airport. Posting on social media, he wrote, “Pretty cool to see the reactions! Excited for tomorrow! T-8h."

According to PTI, the airport is being developed by Navi Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (NMIAL), a special purpose vehicle responsible for developing, operating and maintaining the greenfield airport project in Navi Mumbai.

Spread across 1,160 hectares (2,866 acres), the airport has been designed with a strong focus on sustainability and eco-friendly infrastructure, including the use of renewable energy and green building practices. Once fully completed, NMIA is expected to handle 90 million passengers per annum. In its initial phase, the airport will have the capacity to manage 20 million passengers annually and handle 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo each year.