Navi Mumbai International Airport Sees Nearly 10,000 Travellers in First Two Days of Service – Obnews

The newly operational Navi Mumbai International Airport has recorded a strong start, handling close to 10,000 passengers within the first two days of scheduled commercial operations. Airport officials said the early figures reflect high traveller interest and growing confidence in the new aviation hub serving the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Passenger services formally began on December 25, with the airport recording a total throughput of 4,922 travellers on its first day. This included 2,278 arriving passengers and 2,644 departing passengers. Traffic increased further on December 26, when the airport handled 5,028 passengers, taking the two day total to nearly 10,000.

Officials noted a sharp rise in load factors with the launch of scheduled services. On December 24, arrival loads stood at 71 per cent and departures at 83 per cent. Following the commencement of operations on Christmas Day, arrival load factors rose to 85 per cent, while departure loads climbed to 98 per cent, indicating strong booking momentum as services went live.

During its first month of operations, the airport will function for 12 hours daily, between 8 am and 8 pm, handling 23 scheduled departures each day. Authorities said the airport is currently equipped to manage up to 10 flight movements per hour during this initial phase.

From February 2026, Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to transition to round the clock operations, expanding capacity to 34 daily departures. The move is aimed at meeting the rising air travel demand across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and easing pressure on Mumbai’s primary airport.

The airport is being jointly developed by Adani Airports Holdings and CIDCO. Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani described the launch as a significant milestone for the region, noting that the facility has been designed to global standards.

Alongside passenger services, domestic cargo operations also commenced on December 25. The first cargo shipment arrived from Bengaluru on an IndiGo flight, marking an important step in positioning the airport as a future logistics and cargo hub. Officials said plans are already in place to expand cargo handling capabilities, including international freight operations, in the coming phases.