Adani Airports Holdings Ltd is placing strong emphasis on the Centre’s ‘group of airports’ policy to scale up operations at the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), which is scheduled to begin commercial services on December 25. The policy allows two or more airports in a region to be managed as a single system, enabling coordinated capacity planning, tariff alignment and smoother distribution of air traffic.
Jeet Adani, director at Adani Airports, said NMIA is not just an additional airport but a structural solution to Mumbai’s long-standing aviation constraints. Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) operates with a single runway and has been handling traffic well beyond its designed capacity, particularly during peak hours. By integrating NMIA and CSMIA under the group-of-airports framework, authorities aim to ease congestion while supporting sustained growth in passenger and cargo traffic.
One of the key elements under review is a unified tariff structure for both airports. This would ensure that airlines and passengers are not discouraged from using NMIA due to cost differences, enabling a more balanced distribution of flights. The integrated approach is also expected to help airlines plan schedules more efficiently across the two airports.
In its initial phase, NMIA will operate for limited hours with a modest number of flights, gradually expanding to round-the-clock operations. International flights are expected to follow in the later stages. The airport will also take over general aviation and business jet operations currently handled at Mumbai airport, freeing up valuable slots at CSMIA for commercial flights and improving overall safety and efficiency.
Beyond aviation, NMIA is being positioned as a major economic hub for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Adani Airports plans to develop commercial infrastructure around the airport, including logistics, retail and support services, which are expected to generate significant employment opportunities.
With the group-of-airports policy at its core, NMIA is envisioned as a long-term solution that will not only decongest Mumbai’s overburdened airport but also future-proof the region’s aviation growth for decades to come.
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