Your Next Trip Through Mumbai Just Got Smoother With This New International Airport

Catching a flight from Mumbai has long felt like a mini adventure in itself. You leave home three hours early, yet still end up watching traffic lights change colours more times than your suitcase stickers.

Dear travellers, that is about to change. A smoother ride, a less crowded terminal, and more direct flights from your hometown. The new Navi Mumbai International Airport is now officially open, and it is poised to revolutionise travel completely.

For years, our beloved Mumbai has been bursting at the seams when it comes to air travel. The existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has been operating at full capacity, which means airlines cannot add more flights. If you have ever struggled to find a convenient direct flight from a smaller city like Jaipur or Surat, you have felt this pinch firsthand.

A Relief for 'Mumbaikars'

The original airport can now focus on what it does best, handling its premium routes, while Navi Mumbai becomes the new growth engine. The much-anticipated NMIA is rapidly shaping up to become a transformative hub in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region's transportation landscape. This is a win for everyone. It means more choice, better schedules, and finally, a direct link for millions of us in Tier-II and Tier-III cities straight into the heart of Maharashtra.

With a comprehensive network of roads, railways, and coastal infrastructure planned or under construction, NMIA promises to drastically enhance connectivity for millions of travellers, positioning itself as a key gateway to Maharashtra and beyond.

The real struggle is to reach the airport timely. The new Navi Mumbai airport is an upgraded infrastructure and it is the centrepiece of a connectivity revolution.

The actual game-changer is already here, the 22-kilometre Atal Setu sea bridge. It connects South Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, dramatically slashing travel times. But the revolution does not stop there. By early 2026, the 5.8-kilometre Ulwe Coastal Road will open, linking directly to the Atal Setu and is expected to reduce your travel time from Mumbai by nearly 30 per cent.

If you are driving from the northern suburbs, such as Thane, relief is on the way. A 26-kilometre elevated corridor is planned, promising to save you at least 20 minutes by offering a fast, uninterrupted drive. For the 1.5 lakh daily commuters from that area, this will be a lifesaver.

And for those who prefer to skip the drive altogether? The airport will have its own suburban rail station at Targhar, and plans include Metro Line 8, designed to link both Mumbai airports. While you might need a shuttle bus from the station for now, the foundation for a seamless, multi-option journey is firmly in place.

A Calm, Tech-Savvy Travel Place 

Upon arrival, the experience is designed to feel serene, not stressful. The terminal’s design is inspired by a Lotus, India’s national flower, offering a beautiful and calming welcome. This is a Wi-Fi-enabled, digitally-smart airport built for the modern traveller.

Unlike traditional food courts, the airport will introduce a “food hall” where passengers can pre-order from multiple outlets simultaneously and receive a single consolidated delivery. Along with dedicated restaurants like Wagamama and Coco Cafe by Coco Cart, the space will feature Bombay Bond — a cluster of four popular brands: KMC, Bombay Brasserie, Bayroute, and Foo — sharing a common seating area for a mix-and-match dining experience. Travellers can also order meals directly to their boarding gate via the airport’s app.

Additionally, once you land, and with one tap on the NMIA mobile app, you have a cab booked and on its way. You won't have to fumble for your boarding pass during security checks, making the process seamless. It is all about putting you, the passenger, in control, ensuring your journey is as smooth on the ground as it is in the air.

Your safety is prioritised too, with dedicated security protocols ensuring peace of mind from the terminal to your destination. Behind the scenes, advanced air traffic systems work to make your flight operations smooth. In contrast, the entire digitally-enabled airport ecosystem works in harmony to make your journey as effortless as possible. It is like having a personal travel concierge in your pocket.

Let’s Know NMIA Better!

To understand the sheer size of this project, let us look at the facts:

• The entire airport is being built on a vast 1,160 hectares, which is approximately 2,866 acres of land. That is a lot of space dedicated to making your travel smoother. 

• Duty-free space covers approximately 1,800 sqm; retail space around 5,000 sqm

• In its Initial Phase, the capacity is 20 million passengers per annum (MPPA). Looking ahead to the Final Phase, the number soars to a staggering 90 MPPA, making it an “international aviation hub”. 

• It has a cargo capacity of 0.5 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA), which is expected to increase to 3.2 MMTPA in the final phase.

• NMIA plans to have four terminals and two parallel runways, each measuring 3,700 meters in length and 60 meters in width. These twin strips of tarmac are the backbone that will allow this airport to become one of Asia's busiest hubs.

• The airport’s Category II instrument landing system will enable safe landings even in low visibility of up to 300 m caused by fog, rain, or poor weather.

• The airport will feature digital art, including LED screens, interactive displays, and a giant ripple installation, with additional works such as a fabric forest and a calming digital zone to follow.

• It has four gates and three centres, which are Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie, managing all international and domestic clients.

• With a total of 88 check-in counters at the airport, 66 will be in the traditional format, where an airline staff member assists you with boarding passes and check-in, and 22 will feature self-check-in counters.
  

Passengers, May I Have Your Attention, Please!

• The first flight is likely to take off in December, nearly two months after its inauguration. Initially, the flights will operate between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., at least in the first month.

• While the airport has a capacity of 40 ATMs, the initial days will operate with only 10 ATMs, which means that in one hour, 10 aircraft will be allowed to land or take off.  

Your Gateway to a New Mumbai

The Navi Mumbai International Airport is the heartbeat of a brand-new, planned city called NAINA. This means the area around the airport is being developed with green spaces, modern infrastructure, and economic zones. For you, the traveller, it means you are flying into a vibrant, future-ready region, not just a standalone terminal. Your journey deserves this upgrade.