Elections in India are often accompanied by big announcements, and the aviation sector has been no exception. Ahead of the last general elections, promises were made that the Navi Mumbai and Jewar airports would be ready by the end of 2024. However, after the polls, the timeline shifted to 2025 and kept getting extended. Now, as we move through the latter half of 2025, operations are still pending.
A fresh date has surfaced, with September 30 being mentioned as the possible inauguration. Yet, official notices to pilots (NOTAM) indicate that the airport will remain shut until the early hours of October 1. This highlights a familiar pattern where inaugurations and actual flight operations do not align. Almost a year has passed since the airport was originally scheduled to go live, but the opening now seems just weeks or months away.
On social media, glimpses of the new airport have been creating buzz, showing advanced facilities such as automated baggage handling systems, self-check-in counters, expansive arrival halls and multiple baggage belts. Significant work has also been done on the airside in recent months, including the addition of aircraft bays. At the same time, passenger-linked infrastructure like terminals and approach roads is being readied for use.
The latest Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) confirms that from October 2, 2025, Navi Mumbai International Airport will be able to handle up to 45 Code C aircraft. This category covers workhorses like the Airbus A320 family and the Boeing 737 series, which dominate Indian skies. In addition, there will be 10 Code E bays for larger aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Dreamliner, and Airbus A330. These are convertible bays, meaning that when one of the bigger aircraft uses them, some Code C slots become unavailable. The airport will also feature one Code F gate, capable of handling the world’s largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380.
General aviation has not been left behind. The new hub will launch with 14 dedicated bays and a specialized terminal, considerably larger than what Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport currently offers. In terms of passenger capacity, the airport is initially designed to accommodate 20 million travelers annually, with future expansion aimed at reaching 90 million passengers per year.
To put things in perspective, Mumbai Airport managed 55 million passengers last year. With Terminal 1 in Mumbai undergoing a major revamp and temporarily closing, Navi Mumbai is expected to absorb part of the traffic, including both new services and flights shifted from the existing facility. Airlines such as IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India Express have already confirmed their plans to operate from Navi Mumbai once the new airport begins functioning.