Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu flags off inaugural flight from NAMO Airport, Daman

In a landmark moment for the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, along with Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, Shri Praful Patel, flagged off the inaugural flight on the Daman–Delhi–Daman route from the newly operational NAMO Airport, Daman on July 16, 2026.

Landmark Aviation Milestone for Daman
- Event: On 16 July 2026, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and UT Administrator Praful Patel flagged off the inaugural Daman–Delhi–Daman flight from the newly operational NAMO Airport, Daman.
- Carrier: Alliance Air, the government-owned regional airline, launched the service — marking Daman’s first-ever direct air link to the national capital.

Airport Development
- Vision: Envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of the UDAN scheme.
- Foundation Stone: Laid on 25 April 2023; inaugurated on 5 June 2026.
- Facility: Built at a cost of ₹124 crore on a 25-acre site, with ₹88 crore reimbursed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
- Capacity: 3,700 sq. m terminal, able to handle 14 ATR flights daily and 3.67 lakh passengers annually.

Economic & Tourism Impact
- Industries: Over 7,000 industries in Daman, Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, plus 15,000+ in nearby Vapi and Valsad. Improved connectivity expected to boost investment and jobs.
- Tourism: Daman already attracts ~20 lakh tourists annually; direct flights will accelerate growth. Plans include runway extension for larger aircraft like Airbus A320s and new routes to Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, Patna.
- Blue Economy: Faster transport for fisheries, marine products, food processing, and pharma industries.

Broader Aviation Vision
- UDAN Extension: Scheme extended for 10 more years with a ₹29,000 crore outlay to develop 100 new airports and 200 helipads.
- Diu Example: Passenger traffic grew from 19,000 (2013) to over 1 lakh today; new terminal and runway planned.

Key Quotes
- Ram Mohan Naidu: “Delhi will now be just 2.5 hours away from Daman… PM sir has connected Daman’s blue economy to immense possibilities of the blue sky.”
- Praful Patel: “NAMO Airport will prove to be a game-changer for the industrial belt from Valsad to Palghar.”

This inaugural flight is not just about connectivity — it’s about positioning Daman as a new hub for industry, tourism, and regional growth.