Navi Mumbai International Airport starts commercial flight operations

The Navi Mumbai International Airport commenced commercial flight operations on Thursday marking a key milestone for Indias civil aviation sector while expanding air travel capacity for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region MMRThe Navi Mumbai International Airport NMIA began operations with the first flight from Bengaluru operated by IndiGo touching down on the runway at 8 amThe aircraft was accorded a ceremonial water cannon salute on arrival a timehonoured aviation tradition marking NMIAs first commercial touchdown and departure the airport operator said in a statementThe inaugural arrival was followed by the airports first departure an IndiGo flight 6E882 to Hyderabad at 0840 am completing NMIAs inaugural arrival and departure cycle it saidOn the first day IndiGo Air India Express Akasa Air and Star Air will operate domestic services connecting the new facility to nine destinations across IndiaThe airport will handle 15 scheduled departures on the first day it said adding that during the initial phase the facility will operate for 12 hours between 8 am and 8 pm with up to 24 scheduled daily departures to 13 destinations and the capability to manage up to 10 aircraft movements arrivals and departures per hour it addedThe airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8 this yearThe first phase of the fivephased airport was built at Rs 19650 croreBy the time all five phases of the airport are completed it will be catering to 90 million passengers annually along with dedicated cargo terminals and multimodal connectivityThe entire project is being developed in multiple phases under a special purpose vehicle Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd NMIAL in which the Adani Group has a 74 per cent stake and the remaining 26 per cent is owned by CIDCOFrom February next year operations are planned to progressively scale up to roundtheclock services1515 drones deck skyOn Wednesday a spectacular drone show featuring 1515 drones was organised to mark the airports operational launch on the eve of the commencement of operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport NMIA according to a press releaseThe drones moved in seamless coordination creating striking aerial formations such as 3D Lotus blooms Lotus Design Interiors Airport Logo Green Airport plane flying over Mumbai rise of India among others all centred around the theme and splendour of the airportThe evening brought together innovation and artistry transforming the night sky into a canvas of memorable and visually compelling displaysThe press note stated that among the audience the event saw especiallyabled persons young athletes and NMIA employees witness the occasion unfold live in front of them