After IndiGo, Akasa Air and Adani Airport Holdings have announced a strategic partnership to commence commercial operations from the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), with Akasa set to become an early operator from the new airport.

Following a similar playbook as at Noida International Airport, where Akasa intends to launch on day one with a large operational commitment, the airline has confirmed that it will begin flights from NMIA when the airport opens, expected in 2025.

Akasa to operate 100+ Weekly domestic departures to start off

Akasa Air will operate 100+ Weekly domestic departures initially, scaling up to 300+ domestic and over 50+ international departures weekly in the winter schedule. As part of its broader network strategy, the airline is also set to ramp up to 10 parking bases by the end of FY2027, with a focused international expansion into key Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets.

Commenting on the announcement, Vinay Dube, Founder and CEO of Akasa Air, said:

Our foray into Navi Mumbai International Airport is a strategic step aligned with Akasa Air’s long-term vision to build a future-ready airline that is responsive to the evolving needs of Indian travellers. No airline in India will have a larger percentage of its fleet and operations based out of NMIA than Akasa Air. Enhanced connectivity from Navi Mumbai will not only strengthen our network in the western region but also help fuel India’s economic engine by improving connectivity, stimulating regional development, and ensuring that the benefits of aviation-led growth reach every corner of the country. This move supports our commitment to supplement existing capacities, unlock new demand centres, and enable sustainable growth

NMIA represents the future of Indian aviation, and our presence from the outset aligns with our vision to serve India’s emerging demand with agility, accessibility, and customer-first innovation. We appreciate our continued partnership with Adani Airports, offering expanded connectivity from this state-of-the-art airport while supporting the broader goal of regional and national aviation growth across our nation

Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airport Holdings Ltd., added:

We are pleased to welcome Akasa Air as one of the inaugural airline partners at Navi Mumbai International Airport. Their rapid growth and forward-looking approach make them an ideal partner in NMIA’s journey to becoming a key domestic and international hub. Our collaboration aims to offer a seamless and enhanced travel experience for millions, with NMIA playing a central role in reshaping Mumbai’s air connectivity ecosystem

NMIA: Mumbai’s second international gateway

Navi Mumbai International Airport, developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between Adani Airports and CIDCO, is expected to relieve congestion at the current Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). With plans to eventually handle 90 million passengers annually, NMIA will feature:

• Two parallel runways
• Advanced cargo handling facilities
• State-of-the-art passenger terminals
• Sustainable, eco-friendly design inspired by the Lotus

Phase 1 of the project is targeted to handle 20 million passengers and 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo annually. It is expected to go live this year in the next few months.

As India eyes becoming the third-largest aviation market by 2030, these partnerships between airlines and airport operators will be key to driving the next phase of growth.

Bottomline

Akasa has signed on with Adani Airports to become one of the early operators to be present at Navi Mumbai International Airport on the day it goes live. The airline intends to start with 100 weekly departures, with a tripling of capacity shortly after.

What do you make of Akasa’s plans to go live and scale at Navi Mumbai International Airport?

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