Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is set to commence its first international operation on July 15, 2025, with Air India Express operating the inaugural flight to Abu Dhabi. The flight, scheduled to depart at 2:55 AM, will mark the beginning of overseas services from the greenfield airport, which was commissioned on December 25, 2024.
Air India Express to Launch Twice-Weekly Service
Air India Express will become the first carrier to operate international flights from NMIA, with an initial twice-weekly service connecting the Mumbai Metropolitan Region's new airport to the UAE capital. According to an Air India Express spokesperson, the Navi Mumbai-Abu Dhabi service will operate on Wednesdays and Fridays starting July 15, expanding to three weekly flights from July 29 with the addition of a Sunday frequency.
The flight will depart Navi Mumbai at 2:55 AM and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 4:35 AM, while the return service will leave Abu Dhabi at 5:45 AM and reach Navi Mumbai at 10:20 AM. Bookings for these flights are now open on the airline’s website, mobile app, and other major booking channels, the airline confirmed.
Expanding Connectivity and Frequency
With the addition of this route, Air India Express will operate 30 weekly flights from Navi Mumbai, connecting the airport directly to Abu Dhabi, Bengaluru, and Delhi. The airline’s presence in Maharashtra continues to grow steadily, with over 95 weekly flights from Mumbai, more than 100 weekly flights from Pune, and 14 weekly flights from Nagpur.
Last week, Navi Mumbai Airport CEO BVJK Sharma announced the start of international flights on July 15. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a logistics conclave, Sharma said that freighter operations will begin on day one. He added that both IndiGo and Air India Express are set to operate international flights from Navi Mumbai.
Passenger Traffic and Future Demand
Navi Mumbai airport handled 5.24 lakh passengers in April 2025, while Mumbai airport, India’s second busiest, handled 40.47 lakh passengers during the same period. Both airports will continue to handle domestic and international flights, with Navi Mumbai expected to absorb the incremental demand for air travel generated in the Mumbai region.
