The city of Mumbai, India’s financial capital, has long struggled with an overworked airport located in the middle of a densely populated urban setting. However, relief is on the horizon with the upcoming opening of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). Despite numerous delays and challenges, the airport is expected to be operational in the coming months and will significantly ease congestion in the city.
Spread over 1,100 hectares, NMIA is connected to the island city by India’s longest sea-bridge and will eventually handle 90 million passengers per year. With two parallel runways and plans for subsequent phases of expansion, it will become the first large Indian city to operate two airports. This is a testament to the growing importance of India as an aviation market, with rapid growth in passenger and air traffic.
The airport is expected to meet the high demand for air travel in Mumbai, as the current airport has already reached its peak capacity of handling 55 million passengers annually. Adani Airport Holdings Limited, the operating company, has announced partnerships with major airlines such as Indigo, Akasa Airlines, and Air India. These partnerships will bring new routes and increased traffic to the airport.
Despite the benefits of the new airport, there are also challenges that come with its location, which is 40km from the old commercial center of Mumbai. This may be an inconvenience for passengers, especially those with connecting flights. The lack of direct transportation options between the new and old airports may result in longer travel times for passengers.
To address this issue, NMIA is planning to provide electric buses at regular intervals for passengers with connections. However, it may take a few years for a direct metro line between the two airports to become functional. Until then, both the existing and new airports will handle domestic and international traffic.
Another potential hurdle for NMIA is its ambition to become an international hub like Singapore or Dubai. While the airport is technologically advanced, India’s policies and security practices may need to be revised to facilitate smoother transfers for passengers. Additionally, airlines will need to expand their choice of long-haul destinations and optimize their fleet strategy to leverage the city’s strategic location advantage between Europe, the US, and Asia.
Despite these challenges, NMIA will solve Mumbai’s immediate problem of acute air traffic congestion. It will also serve as a larger catchment area, extending all the way to the neighboring city of Pune. This will make Mumbai one of the select cities in the world, such as New York, London, Dubai, and Tokyo, that operate with multiple airports.
NMIA is not the only new airport in India, as a third airport – Jewar – is set to open near Delhi in the coming months. These developments highlight the growing importance of India as an aviation market and the need for improved infrastructure to accommodate the increasing demand for air travel. With NMIA’s opening, Mumbai will take a significant step towards becoming a global aviation hub.