Mumbai: Organised on the eve of the airport’s commencement of operations, the drone display transformed the skyline into a moving canvas, with formations including 3D lotus blooms, the airport’s logo, green airport motifs, an aircraft flying over Mumbai, and visual tributes to India’s rise. The performance reflected NMIA’s scale, vision, and sustainability-driven identity, blending technology with artistry.

According to a press release, the event was witnessed live by a diverse audience, including specially-abled persons, young athletes, and NMIA employees, underscoring the inclusive spirit of the landmark moment.

NMIA is being developed by Navi Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (NMIAL), a special purpose vehicle formed to design, build, operate and maintain the greenfield airport. NMIAL is a public-private partnership, with Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL)—a subsidiary of Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL)—holding a 74 per cent stake, while the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) retains the remaining 26 per cent. AAHL is part of Adani Enterprises Ltd, the flagship incubator of the Adani Group.

Strategically located in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, NMIA is poised to become one of India’s busiest aviation hubs, catering to the rapidly growing air traffic of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Western India. Spread across 1,160 hectares (2,866 acres), the airport is designed to ultimately handle 90 million passengers per annum, with two parallel runways, state-of-the-art terminal buildings, and advanced cargo facilities.

In its initial phase, NMIA will have the capacity to manage 20 million passengers annually and 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo, setting the foundation for future expansion. Envisioned as a sustainable greenfield airport, the project integrates renewable energy, green building practices, and eco-friendly infrastructure, with its fluid, futuristic architecture inspired by the lotus, India’s national flower.

Flight operations on the opening day will be limited to domestic services. IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air and Star Air will operate flights connecting NMIA to nine destinations across India. A total of 15 scheduled departures are planned today.

During the initial phase, the airport will operate for 12 hours daily, between 8 am and 8 pm. It will have the capacity for up to 24 scheduled departures a day to 13 destinations and can manage up to 10 aircraft movements per hour. From February next year, operations are expected to gradually scale up to a 24×7 schedule, the airport operator said.