Adani Airports–controlled Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Tuesday received its aerodrome licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), taking the greenfield project a step closer to commencing commercial operations.
An aerodrome licence is an official certification that confirms an airport meets all required safety, operational, and infrastructural standards for air transport services. Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL) had applied for the licence a few months ago.
Following the inauguration, it will take around 45 days for commercial operations to begin. Sources said authorities are awaiting confirmation from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as the airport is expected to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi.
“The airport will have to be handed over to the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) for managing security. We will start with domestic and international operations at one go,” Arun Bansal, CEO of AAHL, said in August.
What’s the capacity of NMIA?
With an initial handling capacity of 20 million passengers, NMIA is set to become one of India’s largest airports. Upon completion of all phases, its final capacity is projected to reach 90 million passengers. Construction began in 2021–22.
The project is being developed by a joint venture between AAHL and the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (Cidco). The airport has already faced multiple delays in inauguration timelines—first missing the December 2024 deadline, before being pushed to March and then April 2025.
Flight tests completed?
Ahead of the licence grant, NMIA underwent a series of flight validation tests, including technical assessments, landings and takeoffs, checks of air traffic control systems, and trials for handling both small and large aircraft. In December 2024, an IndiGo A320 became the first commercial aircraft to successfully land at the airport.
Within six months of opening, NMIA is expected to reach a run rate of 20 million passengers. Given higher projected demand, AAHL has already initiated the next phase of construction, which will expand capacity to 60 million passengers.
“With the aerodrome licence now in place, NMIA moves closer to its vision of enhancing regional and international connectivity and establishing a modern gateway that will link Navi Mumbai with the rest of the world,” AAHL said in a press statement.