Mumbai: Maharashtra is all set to witness the grand inauguration of the long-awaited Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on October 8–9, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed. Along with NMIA, the Prime Minister will also flag off Mumbai’s Metro Line 3, a crucial step in easing the city’s congestion.
The Maharashtra government has formally proposed to the Centre to name the airport after late MP and social activist D. B. Patil, a legendary figure in the Konkan region. The final decision rests with the Union government.
Situated near Ulwe and Panvel, NMIA will function under a twin-airport model alongside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA)—a setup similar to global aviation hubs like Dubai (DXB–DWC), London (Heathrow–Gatwick), and New York (JFK–Newark).
Being constructed in five phases, the first phase of NMIA will handle 20 million passengers annually and 0.5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo. Once fully developed, the airport will be capable of serving 90 million passengers and managing 3.2 MMT of cargo every year, making it one of the largest aviation hubs in Asia.
In a major announcement, the Air India group confirmed that its budget carrier Air India Express will be the first airline to operate from NMIA. Initially, the airline will run 20 daily departures to more than 15 domestic destinations. By mid-2026, this will expand to 55 daily flights, including at least five international routes.
