Navi Mumbai International Airport launches international operations with first flight to Abu Dhabi
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Air India Express to launch thrice-weekly direct flights from July 15.
Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. (AAHL) has announced the commencement of scheduled international operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), with Air India Express launching direct services between Navi Mumbai and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from July 15, 2026.
The thrice-weekly service opens NMIA’s international network in less than 200 days after the airport commenced domestic operations on December 25, 2025. It also makes every airport in AAHL’s portfolio internationally connected.
The new route offers travellers a convenient direct link to the UAE in West Asia and reflects the coordinated efforts of government agencies, aviation regulators, airline partners and airport stakeholders in establishing NMIA as MMR’s second global gateway.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chairman, Air India Express, said, “ Navi Mumbai is a key pillar of our dual-airport strategy, complementing our network from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. We value our partnership with Navi Mumbai International Airport and look forward to strengthening connectivity through this collaboration.”
“The launch of our first scheduled international flight marks the beginning of a new phase in Navi Mumbai International Airport's journey. As we expand our network with more airline partners and destinations, our focus remains on delivering seamless operations and a world-class travel experience while strengthening Navi Mumbai's position as a preferred gateway for international travel,” added Arun Bansal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AAHL.
In less than seven months, NMIA has connected 46 domestic destinations, served more than 2.3 million passengers and now handles around 150 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) each day. The addition of international services further strengthens its role in meeting the aviation needs of MMR and western India.
