MUMBAI — July 15, 2026 — In a major boost to India's aviation infrastructure, the newly developed Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) officially commenced its scheduled international passenger and cargo operations today. The milestone was marked by the successful departure of an Air India Express flight to Abu Dhabi, UAE, which took off at 2:55 AM IST, carrying the airport’s very first international travelers. To make the occasion even more significant, this inaugural flight also carried NMIA's first-ever global perishable export cargo shipment, officially activating the airport's high-capacity international freight wing.

Developed to ease the massive air traffic congestion at Mumbai's primary Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), the new greenfield airport has achieved this global transition in less than 200 days since starting domestic operations on December 25, 2025. Operated by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), the airport has scaled up rapidly, already serving over 2.3 million domestic passengers across 46 destinations with roughly 150 daily flights.

The launch of the thrice-weekly Abu Dhabi route not only establishes a vital second international gateway for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region but also ensures that all eight airports under the Adani portfolio are now officially internationally connected. Aviation officials and airline partners have expressed immense confidence that the addition of global routes at NMIA will significantly boost tourism, international trade, and business travel across western India in the coming years.