Chairman Gautam Adani Welcomes First Passengers as Navi Mumbai International Airport Takes Flight

Chairman Gautam Adani personally welcomed passengers from the inaugural flight and interacted with airport staff, frontline workers and first-time flyers.

Launch Date:
December 25, 2025

Event:
Chairman Gautam Adani personally welcomed the first passengers of the inaugural flight, IndiGo 6E460 from Bengaluru, which landed to a traditional water cannon salute.

Scale of Operations:
On Day One, NMIA handled 48 flights connecting nine domestic destinations, serving over 4,000 passengers.

Symbolism:
The opening marked Mumbai’s transition into a multi-airport system, joining global aviation hubs like London, New York, and Tokyo.

Ceremonial Highlights:
- Flag-hoisting by Param Vir Chakra awardees Captain Bana Singh and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar
- Cultural performances featuring Maharashtrian folk traditions (Lezim, Dhol, Tutari)
- A drone show with 1,515 synchronized drones themed Rise of India

Community Impact:
Farmers, underprivileged families, and colleagues with disabilities experienced their first-ever flight through a special chartered aerial tour of Mumbai.

Design & Capacity:
Inspired by the lotus flower, NMIA is designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. When fully built, it will handle 90 million passengers annually and feature advanced cargo facilities.

Why It Matters
This inauguration is more than an infrastructure milestone — it’s a cultural and economic turning point. NMIA is expected to ease congestion at Mumbai’s existing airport, boost Maharashtra’s GDP, attract billions in investment, and redefine India’s aviation landscape.