Navi Mumbai International Airport is set to begin flight operations on December 25, marking a significant step in the Adani Group’s growing footprint in India’s aviation sector. The airport will open with a calibrated and phased rollout, starting with limited services before gradually moving to full-scale operations by February, according to CNBC-TV18.
The initial launch will see a controlled number of flights, allowing airport authorities to stabilise systems and workflows. Jeet Adani, speaking in an exclusive interview to CNBC-TV18, said the approach is designed to ensure operational smoothness during the early days of the airport’s functioning.
Why December 25 was chosen for take-off
Addressing questions around the choice of launch date, Adani clarified that the decision was purely operational. “We chose Christmas because it’s the lowest load period. We wanted to have a smooth start rather than a hectic first day,” he said, adding that the airport will follow a “rolling start” model.
In its initial phase, the airport is expected to handle around 30 flights a day, translating to roughly eight flights per hour. This cautious ramp-up is aimed at identifying and resolving early-stage challenges before scaling operations.
From limited flights to full-scale operations by February
Adani acknowledged that some minor issues are expected during the early phase. “There are a few snags here and there, which we’ll fix over the next month to 45 days. By February onwards, we’ll see full-fledged, high-intensity operations,” he told CNBC-TV18.
The scale-up planned over the next two months is substantial. By February, the airport is projected to manage 24 to 30 flights an hour, effectively matching in one hour what it will initially handle across an entire day. “What we’re doing in a day initially, we’ll eventually be doing in an hour,” Adani noted.
The Navi Mumbai Airport adds to Adani Group’s expanding aviation portfolio, which began in 2019 with the formation of Adani Airports Holding Company. The group is now India’s largest private airport operator, managing eight airports. Six airports are acquired through privatisation, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport through the acquisition of GVK’s stake, and the upcoming Navi Mumbai facility.