Navi Mumbai Airport enters international operations with direct UAE flights
Dhaka: Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) launched its first scheduled international flight on July 15, with Air India Express operating the inaugural service to Abu Dhabi at 2:55 am. The launch came just around six months after the airport began domestic operations.
The Abu Dhabi route will run three times a week, offering a direct link between the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and the UAE. Adani Airports Holdings Ltd. (AAHL) said the launch reflected coordinated efforts among government agencies, aviation regulators, airline partners, and airport stakeholders.
The inaugural flight also carried the airport's first international perishable export shipment, marking NMIA's entry as a gateway for high-value, time-sensitive cargo. AAHL said the milestone should improve market access for Indian exporters while boosting the airport's cargo capabilities.
AAHL Chief Executive Officer Arun Bansal called the flight the start of a new phase for NMIA, adding that the airport's focus remains on seamless operations as it broadens its airline partnerships and destination network, aiming to establish the facility as a preferred international gateway.
NMIA currently manages around 150 daily air traffic movements and serves 46 domestic destinations. AAHL said the Abu Dhabi service is the first of several planned international routes from the newly established airport.
Officials expect the addition of international services will reinforce the airport's role in supporting aviation demand across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and western India, while also contributing to the country's trade, tourism, and connectivity ambitions.
Air India Express Chairman Nipun Aggarwal said the airline was pleased to begin international operations from NMIA, calling the Abu Dhabi flights a new gateway for travelers from the region. He described the airport as a key part of the group's dual-airport strategy alongside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Navi Mumbai International Airport is a joint venture between the Adani Group and the Maharashtra government's City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO).
The Adani Group, under AAHL, currently operates eight airports in India — Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, and Mangaluru. With NMIA's international debut, all eight airports in the group's portfolio now handle both domestic and international traffic.
