News Brief
Flight Operations At Newly-Launched Navi Mumbai International Airport To Begin After 45 Days
Navi Mumbai International Airport
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday (10 October) said that flight operations at recently inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) will commence only after 45 days, as some work is yet to be completed, Indian Express reported.
In response to a question on whom the airport would be named after, Pawar reportedly said, "Let the operations of NMIA first start. The state government, as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are aware that it will take 45 more days for take-offs and landings at the airport".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of NMIA on Wednesday (8 October), comprising Terminal 1 and Runway 1, equipped with 10 bus gates and 29 aerobridges.
Pawar said that the Maharashtra government has requested the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to consider a new airport near Vadhvan in Palghar district, where a major seaport is under construction.
He noted that developing both an airport and a port typically takes four to five years.
Designed by London-based Zaha Hadid Architects, NMIA will eventually have four passenger terminals and two parallel runways, with a dedicated VVIP terminal planned for completion by 2030.
The building’s design, inspired by the lotus, incorporates motifs that reflect Maharashtra’s culture and heritage.
Electric buses will form part of its ground transport system, while a unique water taxi service will connect it to other parts of the city.
NMIA will also be India’s first fully digital airport, deploying DigiYatra for contactless processing and AI-based systems across check-in, security, and boarding.
The first phase includes 66 check-in counters and 22 self-baggage drop kiosks aimed at cutting queues and ensuring faster passenger flow.
Airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air have already committed to operating from the new hub.
