Navi Mumbai Airport to begin international flights on July 15, 2026
The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) will commence international passenger and freighter operations on July 15, 2026, as confirmed by B.V.J.K. Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL). The announcement was made at the Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers Association (BCBA) Logistics Conclave in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Domestic flight services at the greenfield airport, developed by the Adani Group, began in December 2025. The upcoming international launch marks a significant milestone for the second airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Sharma stated that freighter services will start on July 15, with an expected increase to nearly 18 weekly flights. International passenger flights are also planned to begin on the same day.
Two airlines, Air India Express and IndiGo, have confirmed their intention to operate international flights from Navi Mumbai. Sharma noted that the readiness for international operations was reviewed on June 16, 2026, by a senior Member (Customs) from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). Necessary notifications have been promulgated, and the final notification is being issued, which will be followed by procedures under Section 45 of the Customs Act and trials for courier and cargo codes. A trade notice from customs is likely around July 5, 2026.
Currently, the airport handles approximately 20,000 passengers per day with 150 departures and arrivals. By the end of the year, daily passenger footfall is projected to rise to 50,000, with 380 air traffic movements per day. These figures indicate a steady growth in domestic traffic since the airport’s inauguration.
In addition to its operational developments, the Navi Mumbai International Airport was recently awarded the Prix Versailles World's Most Beautiful Airports 2026. The announcement was made on June 15, 2026, placing NMIA alongside five other international airports: Guangzhou (China), Frankfurt am Main (Germany), Kandal Stueng (Cambodia), Pittsburgh (USA), and San Diego (USA). The Prix Versailles is a global architecture and design award that recognises outstanding aesthetics in airport structures.
The airport's design and capacity expansion are part of broader efforts to ease congestion at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and support the region's economic growth. The commencement of international operations is expected to enhance cargo movement and passenger travel, contributing to trade and tourism.
