Adani Group-owned Navi Mumbai International Airport is set to commence international operations from its greenfield facility on July 15, 2026, according to Business Standard reports. The airport will begin with international freighter operations and expects to ramp up to 18 weekly flights in the freight segment. Additionally, international passenger flights are expected to start on the same day, with both Air India Express and IndiGo confirmed as operators from the facility. As confirmed by NMIA Chairman Captain BVJK Sharma on Wednesday, the initial international operations are likely to focus on short-haul routes, particularly destinations in the Gulf region.
The airport received regulatory clearance when Member (Customs) from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) reviewed the airport's readiness on Tuesday. As reported by Business Standard, relevant notifications have been promulgated, with the final preparations including Section 45 procedures and trials for both courier and cargo codes. According to NMIA Chairman Captain BVJK Sharma, customs authorities have already inspected the airport's preparedness and the remaining approvals are currently being processed. "The last one is being done today, which will then follow with Section 45 and the trials with both the codes for courier and the cargo. This will lead to probably a trade notice by the customs around 5th of July," Sharma said.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport has been operational since December 2025 for domestic flights and currently handles approximately 20,000 passengers per day with 150 departures and arrivals. According to Business Standard reports, the airport is targeting significant growth with expectations to handle 50,000 passengers per day by year-end and 380 air traffic movements per day. The facility was recently recognized among the Prix Versailles World's Most Beautiful Airports 2026 alongside five other international airports.
The NMIA Chairman outlined ambitious expansion plans for the airport's future growth, revealing significant redesign of the proposed Terminal 2 facility. "No, the design work has just started because earlier we were planning a 30 million passenger terminal. Now we are planning a bigger terminal. We are redesigning it," Sharma said. The revised Terminal 2 is being planned as a 50-million-passenger facility and will eventually serve as the dedicated international terminal as the airport expands. According to the chairman, the airport's master plan is being revised to support future growth in passenger and cargo volumes, with one core and shell being built and opened in phases based on demand and supply.
As reported by Business Standard, the Navi Mumbai International Airport represents the second airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and is owned by the Adani Group. The facility's international operations will provide additional capacity and connectivity options for the region's aviation infrastructure. Highlighting the importance of cargo and logistics, NMIA Chairman Captain BVJK Sharma emphasized that air freight would play a crucial role in India's economic growth strategy. The airport is targeting an eventual cargo handling capacity of 3.2 million metric tonnes annually, positioning itself as a major aviation and logistics hub. The chairman also highlighted plans to strengthen multimodal connectivity through Metro Line 8, high-speed rail links, road infrastructure and future water transport services.
