I honestly thought this day would never come.
We’ve been hearing about the “second Mumbai airport” since I was in college. It became one of those urban legends—like a traffic-free Silk Board in Bangalore or finding saver award availability on a long weekend.
But yesterday, December 25th, it actually happened. The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) officially commenced commercial operations.
For Mumbai, and for India, it’s a massive moment.
If you are flying to Mumbai next week, you now have a choice to make. And if you make the wrong one, you are going to be sitting in a cab for three hours wondering where your life went wrong.
Here is the report on Day 1, the current “soft launch” reality, and the definitive guide on whether you should book BOM or NMI.
The Day 1 Report: History Made
For the av-geeks, yesterday was electric. The maximum city finally has maximum capacity options.
- The First Landing: The honor went to IndiGo flight 6E 460 from Bengaluru (BLR), touching down at 08:00 AM to the customary water cannon salute.
- The First Departure: IndiGo 6E 882 took off shortly after for Hyderabad (HYD).
Currently, four airlines have set up shop at NMI:
- IndiGo: Connecting Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Goa (Mopa), Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Nagpur, and Vadodara.
- Air India Express: Focusing on key metros (BLR/DEL).
- Akasa Air: The young player is betting big here, connecting Ahmedabad, Delhi, Goa(Mopa), and Kochi.
- Star Air: Operating niche regional routes with their Embraer jets - Ahmedabad, Goa (Mopa), Bengaluru and Nanded.
The “Soft Launch” Reality: Manage Your Expectations
While the runway is smooth and the terminal smells like fresh paint, the “passenger experience” is still loading.
1. The Lounge Situation: Non-Existent
Let’s rip the band-aid off: The lounges are not ready. If you are relying on your Priority Pass or Amex Platinum for a pre-flight meal, you will be disappointed.
- Status: Zero lounges operational as of Day 1.
- Timeline: Ground staff suggest the main Adani-1 Lounge (Business/Economy) is at least one month away (Late Jan 2026).
- The Fix: There might be a temporary “pop-up” lounge later this week, but for now, the only option is a restaurant with typical Airport prices.
2. Food & Beverage
The only spot serving hot meals right now is ‘Gully Kitchen’. It serves decent idli/dosa/poha, but expect queues.
3. Operational Hours
Don’t look for red-eye flights yet. NMI is currently operating on a 12-hour clock (8:00 AM to 8:00 PM). Full 24/7 operations are expected by February 2026.
The Ultimate Question: Should You Book BOM or NMI?
This is the most critical part. Mumbai is unique geographically—BOM is on an island, NMI is on the mainland. Your choice of airport should depend entirely on your final destination.
Stick with BOM (The Old Airport) IF:
- You are heading to “Town” (South Mumbai), Bandra, or Juhu:
- Why: Despite the traffic, BOM is geographically central to the western spine of the city. While the Trans-Harbour Link (Atal Setu) makes NMI accessible to South Mumbai, BOM is still the default for frequency and habit.
- You are going to the Western Suburbs (Andheri/Goregaon/Borivali):
- Why: Do not even look at NMI. Crossing the creek back to the western suburbs is counter-intuitive and painful.
- You are connecting to International Long-Haul:
- Why: If you are flying to London/Dubai/Singapore on a widebody, you are still using BOM T2. Transferring between BOM and NMI is a logistic nightmare (min 1.5 to 2.5 hours travel time). Avoid cross-airport transfers at all costs.
Switch to NMI (The New Airport) IF:
- You are heading to Pune or Lonavala:
- The Game Changer: This is the killer use-case. NMI is significantly closer to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. You can land and be on the highway in 20 minutes, shaving 60-90 minutes off the total journey compared to BOM.
- You live in Navi Mumbai, Thane, or Kalyan:
- Why: A total no-brainer. You save hours of commute.
- You want better Award Availability:
- The Hack: Airlines are trying to fill these new planes. It should be easier to get award tickets to and from NMI.
The Verdict
It’s going to take a few months for the ecosystem (cabs, lounges, retail) to stabilize. For now, NMI is a functional, efficient utility—perfect for getting in and out of the eastern side of the region, but lacking the creature comforts of T2.
In a couple of months, we expect NMI to be running at much higher capacity with all the bells and whistles. And if you also invested in a property around the airport, the time to reap the rewards is here.
