New Launch - India Real Estate Report 2026.
Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has launched scheduled international operations, with Air India Express beginning direct flights between Navi Mumbai and Abu Dhabi from July 15. The announcement was made by Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL), India's largest private airport operator, marking the airport's first international route in less than 200 days since domestic operations began on December 25, 2025. The milestone also makes every airport in AAHL's portfolio internationally connected, underlining the rapid scale-up of India's newest greenfield international airport.
Flight Schedule and Route Details
The service will initially operate twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Fridays, before increasing to three weekly flights from July 29 with the addition of a Sunday service. The route connects Navi Mumbai directly to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, giving travellers from Navi Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, and surrounding areas a new international gateway without needing to cross into Mumbai city. With this route confirmed, Air India Express will operate 30 weekly flights from NMIA, alongside its existing domestic connections to Bengaluru and Delhi.
- First international route: Navi Mumbai to Abu Dhabi
- Launch date: July 15, 2026
- Initial frequency: twice weekly, rising to three weekly flights from July 29
- Domestic operations began: December 25, 2025
- Domestic destinations connected: 46, with more than 2.3 million passengers served so far
Also Read: Gurugram-Rewari Highway Set to Boost NCR Property Prices
A Rapid Scale-Up Since Launch
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated NMIA in October last year, ahead of its December 25 domestic launch. In under seven months of operations, the airport has connected 46 domestic destinations and now handles around 150 Air Traffic Movements daily. NMIA is designed to handle up to 90 million passengers annually once fully complete, with an initial operating capacity of 20 million passengers. It is the second international airport serving the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, complementing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport under what Air India Express described as a dual-airport strategy for the region, aimed at easing congestion at Mumbai's existing airport while opening up a more convenient option for residents of Navi Mumbai and neighbouring districts.
A New Cargo Gateway Too
The inaugural international flight also carried NMIA's first global perishable export shipment, positioning the airport as a new gateway for high-value, time-sensitive cargo. According to AAHL, this is expected to improve international market access for Indian exporters while strengthening the airport's growing cargo capabilities, adding a fresh export route for businesses operating across the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
What Airport Leadership Said
AAHL CEO Arun Bansal said the launch marks a new phase in NMIA's journey and thanked government agencies and stakeholders for supporting the milestone, while also acknowledging Air India Express for partnering on the airport's first international route. Air India Express Chairman Nipun Aggarwal described Navi Mumbai as a key pillar of the airline's dual-airport strategy for the region, noting the partnership will help strengthen connectivity between Navi Mumbai and international destinations. The Abu Dhabi route is positioned as the first of several international destinations planned from NMIA in the months ahead.
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