Navi Mumbai airport launches international operations with 1st flight to Abu Dhabi from Wednesday
New Delhi, July 14
India's largest private airport operator Adani Airport Holdings has announced the commencement of scheduled international operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport, with Air India Express launching direct services between Navi Mumbai and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, from July 15.
According to a press release, the thrice-weekly service opens NMIA's international network in less than 200 days after the airport commenced domestic operations on December 25, 2025.
It also makes every airport in AAHL's portfolio internationally connected, reflecting the rapid scale-up of India's newest greenfield international airport and strengthening connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), home to one of India's largest concentrations of people, businesses and economic activities.
As per the release, the new route offers travellers a convenient direct link to the UAE in West Asia and reflects the coordinated efforts of government agencies, aviation regulators, airline partners and airport stakeholders in establishing NMIA as MMR's second global gateway.
Arun Bansal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AAHL, stated, "The launch of our first scheduled international flight marks the beginning of a new phase in Navi Mumbai International Airport's journey. We thank all the state and central government agencies and stakeholders for their invaluable support in helping us achieve this milestone."
"We also appreciate Air India Express for partnering with us on this important first international route. As we expand our network with more airline partners and destinations, our focus remains on delivering seamless operations and a world-class travel experience while strengthening Navi Mumbai's position as a preferred gateway for international travel," he said.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chairman, Air India Express, said, "We are delighted to launch international operations from Navi Mumbai with direct flights to Abu Dhabi, creating a convenient new gateway to the UAE for travellers from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Navi Mumbai is a key pillar of our dual-airport strategy, complementing our network from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. We value our partnership with Navi Mumbai International Airport and look forward to strengthening connectivity through this collaboration."
In less than seven months, NMIA has connected 46 domestic destinations, served more than 2.3 million passengers and now handles around 150 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) each day. The addition of international services further strengthens its role in meeting the aviation needs of MMR and western India, the release said.
The inaugural international flight also carries NMIA's first global perishable export shipment, establishing the airport as a new gateway for high-value, time-sensitive cargo. The milestone is expected to improve international market access for Indian exporters while strengthening NMIA's growing cargo capabilities, as per the release.
The Abu Dhabi service is the first of several international routes planned from NMIA. As the airport expands its airline partnerships and destination network, it is poised to play an increasingly important role in strengthening Mumbai's aviation capacity while supporting India's growing international connectivity, trade and tourism.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is good news but I hope they also focus on domestic connectivity. Many of us still struggle to get affordable flights to smaller cities. International is great for business travellers and NRIs, but what about the common man? Also, the road connectivity to NMIA still needs improvement - the new highway is still under construction.
As an expat working in Navi Mumbai's IT sector, this is brilliant! Currently I have to travel all the way to CSIA for international flights - that's 1.5 hours minimum in traffic. Abu Dhabi is a major hub with connections to Europe and Africa. This will save me so much time and hassle. Great move by Adani and Air India Express!
2.3 million passengers in just 7 months? That's impressive! But I'm curious about the cargo aspect they mentioned. "First global perishable export shipment" - this could be huge for farmers and exporters from Maharashtra and nearby states. Imagine fresh Alphonso mangoes or flowers reaching the Gulf markets faster! 🥭✈️
Honestly, I'm a bit skeptical. The airport is still far from fully functional - the metro connectivity isn't ready, the expressway is delayed, and parking facilities are limited. Launching international flights now feels like putting the cart before the horse. They should have sorted the ground infrastructure first. Still, let's hope this works out well for the region.
Great to see India's aviation infrastructure expanding! Having lived in both Mumbai and Pune, I know how congested CSIA gets. This dual airport
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