Navi Mumbai International Airport begins international operations with first Abu Dhabi flight

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has marked a major milestone by launching its first scheduled international flight, with an Air India Express service departing for Abu Dhabi. The inaugural flight signifies the airport's transition into international operations, more than six months after it began domestic commercial services.

The Abu Dhabi route will operate three times a week, strengthening air connectivity between India and the UAE while offering passengers an alternative gateway to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The first international departure also carried NMIA's inaugural shipment of perishable export cargo, highlighting the airport's growing role in both passenger and cargo transportation.

Developed to ease congestion at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, NMIA is expected to become a key aviation hub with expanded domestic and international services in the coming years. The airport features modern infrastructure and is planned to support higher passenger traffic as operations continue to expand.

Officials believe the launch of international flights will boost tourism, trade, and business travel while strengthening India's aviation network and improving connectivity with global destinations.