Big Update: Navi Mumbai Airport Set to Open on This Date

As air traffic at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport continues to soar beyond its intended capacity, a long-awaited solution is finally on the horizon. The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), set to become India’s second-largest airport, is preparing to open its runways to the world—ushering in a new era of connectivity, commerce, and regional development.

During a recent session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Industries Minister Uday Samant confirmed that NMIA will begin operations by the end of September 2025, marking a significant milestone in the state’s infrastructure journey. The project, decades in planning, is now progressing rapidly, with its first phase nearing completion.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport is not just another airport—it’s a vision scaled across 1,160 hectares of land, designed to handle future passenger and cargo demands with cutting-edge infrastructure.

At the heart of this development is a 3.7-kilometer-long runway, capable of accommodating 350 aircraft simultaneously. Once all four phases are completed, the airport will be equipped to handle over 90 million passengers annually, making it a vital hub for both domestic and international travel.

Construction Timeline:

Phase 1: Scheduled for completion by April 2025

Phase 2: To be completed by 2029

Phase 3: Targeted for 2032

Phase 4: Final phase by 2036

Additionally, NMIA will house the country’s largest air cargo system, supporting India’s ambitions to become a global logistics powerhouse.

Flight Operations, Connectivity, and Future-Proof Planning

From day one, the airport will handle 18 daily flights to more than 15 cities, translating to 36 air traffic movements (ATMs). By November 2025, the volume will increase to 79 daily flights (158 ATMs), including 14 international flights, significantly enhancing regional and international connectivity.

To ensure the airport is seamlessly integrated into the broader transportation network, CIDCO—the project’s primary developer—is working to connect NMIA with key roadways, metro lines, and other public transport systems. It will be directly linked via Metro Line 8 and Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1, easing access for travelers across Mumbai and its satellite cities.

Authorities are also exploring water taxi services, potentially reducing the Mumbai-Navi Mumbai commute to just 17 minutes.

Looking beyond commercial travel, the airport’s long-term blueprint includes a dedicated terminal for Bollywood celebrities, industrialists, VIPs, and top government officials. This exclusive facility will be developed during future expansion phases, reinforcing NMIA’s status as a world-class international gateway.

Regional Growth, Real Estate Boost, and Job Creation

The launch of NMIA is expected to be a turning point for the regional economy. It will serve as a major catalyst for growth in sectors such as logistics, hospitality, trading, BPO, and aviation services.

The airport’s strategic location offers a distinct advantage to Pune travelers. The distance from Pune to Navi Mumbai Airport is approximately 2 hours 20 minutes, nearly an hour shorter than the commute to Mumbai Airport (3 hours 30 minutes). Given Pune’s limited international connectivity via the Lohegaon Airport, NMIA is poised to become the city’s go-to international hub.

Initially, the airport will manage around 2–3 million passengers, expanding to 50 million by 2029. As air traffic in India is projected to reach 100 million passengers annually by 2034, NMIA’s development comes at a crucial time.

Real estate in surrounding areas such as Panvel, Ulwe, Kharghar, Kamothe, and Taloja is expected to witness a 10–15% increase in property value. Residential and commercial investments are already gaining momentum, driven by improved infrastructure and employment prospects.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport represents more than just an infrastructure upgrade—it’s a strategic response to India’s growing aviation needs and urban expansion. As it prepares to welcome its first flights, NMIA is poised to become a key economic engine for Maharashtra, easing the load on Mumbai’s primary airport while unlocking new opportunities for connectivity, commerce, and community development.