Navi Mumbai International Airport begins operations amid cargo disruptions

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has commenced passenger and cargo operations, though the transition has caused logistical challenges. Regional airline FLY91 has launched direct flights from the airport to Sindhudurg, Jalgaon, Goa, and Agatti, with plans to operate over 350 weekly flights across 14 destinations as part of its winter schedule.

However, the shift of freighter operations to NMIA has resulted in disruptions for some shippers. A pharmaceutical shipment bound for Manchester faced significant delays and increased costs after being rerouted. Logistics experts noted that the transition, linked to the planned redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Mumbai’s existing airport, could increase transit times by 15 days and raise freight costs by 20-25% for certain routes.

To support the new facility, operated by Adani Airport Holdings Limited, a multimodal transport network is being established. This includes electric bus services and various shuttle options connecting the airport to Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, and other regional hubs.