In a significant milestone for the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIAL), an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft successfully landed on its south runway, as announced by the Adani Group on Friday.
The inaugural landing of the IAF C-295 aircraft signifies a major step in the development of NMIAL, which began construction in August 2021. The airport is expected to be operational by early 2025.
Jeet Adani, Director of Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. (AAHL), expressed pride in the progress made at NMIAL, stating, “As AAHL’s first greenfield airport, NMIAL represents years of planning, investment, and hard work.” He thanked the Government of Maharashtra, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders for their support, emphasizing the airport’s potential to boost regional growth and serve as a global travel hub.
Dignitaries in Attendance
The event was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, along with senior officials from Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd. and Adani Airport Holdings Ltd.
Testing Infrastructure Readiness
The successful test landing enables engineers, aviation authorities, and airport operators to assess the performance and readiness of the airport’s essential infrastructure. It also highlights NMIAL’s capability to support both civilian and military operations, establishing it as a strategic hub for missions such as disaster response and emergency landings.
The NMIAL is set to become one of India’s premier aviation hubs, catering to both domestic and international passengers. The airport will feature a 3,700-meter runway, designed to accommodate large commercial aircraft, as well as modern passenger terminals and advanced air traffic control systems.
Terminal 1 alone is projected to handle up to 20 million passengers annually, contributing to a total capacity of 90 million passengers per year upon full completion. This expansion is expected to enhance accessibility and economic opportunities in the Navi Mumbai region.
Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (NMIAL) is a special purpose vehicle established for the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of the greenfield international airport project on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis. NMIAL is a subsidiary of Adani Airports Holdings Limited and is co-owned by Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) (74% shareholding) and the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO) (26% shareholding).
