In a significant boost to air connectivity in Maharashtra, two major domestic carriers are set to commence operations from the newly constructed Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) starting next month. Both IndiGo Airlines and Akasa Air have announced they will begin services from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region's second airport from December 25, marking a new era for air travel in western India.
IndiGo's Extensive Network from NMIA
IndiGo Airlines, India's largest carrier by market share, revealed it will launch flight services from NMIA on Christmas Day, connecting the new airport to 10 major cities across India. The airline's initial network from Navi Mumbai will include destinations such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Cochin, Delhi, Goa (Mopa), Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangalore, and Nagpur.
The airline has indicated plans to expand its route network from NMIA in the coming months by increasing the number of direct flight destinations. This expansion aligns with IndiGo's current operational scale of more than 2,300 daily flights to over 130 destinations, including 90 domestic airports. According to recent fleet data, the airline operates 362 active aircraft from its total fleet of 409 planes.
Akasa Air's Strategic Staggered Launch
Meanwhile, the relatively newer carrier Akasa Air has announced a more measured approach to commencing operations from the new airport. The airline will begin services on December 25 in what it describes as a 'staggered manner', starting with its inaugural flight connecting the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to Delhi.
In the days following the launch, Akasa Air plans to gradually introduce services to three additional cities: Ahmedabad, Goa, and Cochin. The airline's strategic plan involves progressively ramping up operations to eventually reach 300 domestic flights and 50 international weekly departures from NMIA over time.
Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Akasa Air, emphasized the strategic importance of NMIA for the airline's growth. 'For Akasa Air, NMIA strengthens our strategic presence in the MMR and western India, allowing us to optimise capacity deployment and capture new demand pools across,' Iyer stated in an official announcement.
Navi Mumbai Airport: A Game Changer for Regional Connectivity
The Navi Mumbai International Airport, which had its phase one inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8 this year, represents a massive infrastructure investment of ₹19,650 crore. The first phase spans 1,160 hectares and features one terminal building and one runway with an annual passenger handling capacity of 2 crore travelers.
Strategically positioned to complement the existing Mumbai International Airport, NMIA is expected to significantly ease air traffic congestion in the region while catering to the growing demand for air travel from India's financial capital. The airport's development is projected to play a crucial role in enhancing regional connectivity and supporting economic development across western India.
Both airlines' expansion into NMIA comes at a pivotal moment for Indian aviation, as the sector continues to experience robust growth in passenger traffic. The new airport operations will provide travelers with more options and potentially competitive pricing on key routes from the Mumbai metropolitan region.
