Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu flags off inaugural flight from NAMO Airport, Daman
Image Credits - PIB
Developed by the UT Administration at a cost of INR 124 crore on a 25-acre site, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation reimbursing INR 88 crore towards the project, the terminal spans 3,700 square metres and can currently handle 14 ATR flights a day, with a capacity of 3.67 lakh passengers annually.
In a landmark moment for the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, along with Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Praful Patel, flagged off the inaugural flight on the Daman–Delhi–Daman route from the newly operational NAMO Airport, Daman on July 16, 2026. Government-owned regional carrier Alliance Air launched the flight, marking Daman's first-ever direct air link.
Daman Airport is a dual-purpose facility operating out of the Indian Coast Guard Air Station (ICGAS), Daman. Developed by the UT Administration at a cost of INR 124 crore on a 25-acre site, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation reimbursing INR 88 crore towards the project, the terminal spans 3,700 square metres and can currently handle 14 ATR flights a day, with a capacity of 3.67 lakh passengers annually.
The event for commencement of flight operations was attended by senior officials of the UT Administration, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Alliance Air and the Indian Coast Guard along with local residents of Daman.
Speaking on the occasion, Ram Mohan Naidu said, "On this historic occasion, I extend my heartiest greetings to the people of Daman. With its first flight itself, Daman is getting directly connected to the national capital. Now instead of going through Surat or Mumbai and spending 8 to 10 hours, Delhi will be just 2.5 hours away from Daman. This has been possible with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s transformative UDAN Scheme.”
The minister added that over the last 12 years, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu have benefited from more than 450 projects worth over INR 13,000 crore, which is why the people of Daman named their new airport ‘NAMO Airport’ as a mark of respect for the Prime Minister's vision for addressing a long-standing demand of Daman.
Highlighting the region's tourism potential, the Minister said nearly 20 lakh tourists visit Daman every year and the footfall will grow rapidly as tourists will find Daman on the aviation map. And the idea is to enable landing of bigger aircraft, including Airbus A320-type planes in Daman by extension of the runway and increasing the connectivity to cities like Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Patna.
Citing the example of Diu Airport, the minister said annual passenger traffic there has grown from just 19,000 in 2013 to over one lakh. He said the ministry is working towards developing a new terminal and an additional larger runway at Diu Airport to meet rising demand.
Further talking about the significance of Daman airport, Ram Mohan Naidu said, “PM sir has connected Daman’s blue economy to immense possibilities of the blue sky. Daman's fishery, marine products and food processing goods will now be able to reach any corner of the country within a few hours." He said this would benefit the fishing community, open new markets for marine farmers and also give fresh momentum to the pharma industry here.”
The Minister also highlighted a further extension of the transformative UDAN scheme for a further period of 10 years. Under the Modified UDAN Scheme, an unprecedented outlay of INR 29,000 crore has been provided over the next 10 years to develop 100 new airports and 200 new helipads across the country, further strengthening India's regional aviation network.
Naidu concluded his address by conveying special thanks to the Indian Coast Guard for its significant contribution in realising the NAMO Airport project and extended his heartiest congratulations to the people of Daman on the historic occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Praful Patel, Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, said, "NAMO Airport will prove to be a game-changer for the entire industrial workforce belt stretching from Valsad in Gujarat to Palghar in Maharashtra, opening up new opportunities for the youth of this region. I am confident that within the next 15 years, we will see NAMO Airport, Daman, expand many times over, emerging as a game-changer for the region's economy."
