During the BCBA Logistics Conclave, the CEO noted that customs authorities have finalized their review of the airport’s preparedness, and necessary notifications for international operations have been issued.
“Member Customs assessed readiness yesterday, and applicable notifications have been released. The final notification is anticipated to be completed today. This will be succeeded by Section 45 approval and trial runs for courier and cargo operations. We expect Customs to issue a trade notice on July 5,” he mentioned.
The airport aims to initiate international freighter services from July 15, gradually increasing to approximately 18 weekly freighter flights.
“We are launching with freighters on July 15 and project to reach nearly 18 weekly flights. Movement is also taking place on the passenger front, and we hope international passenger flights will begin on July 15,” the CEO remarked.
IndiGo, Air India Express To Lead International Operations
Although the final international schedule is still in development, the CEO confirmed that both IndiGo and Air India Express have submitted plans to start international services from Navi Mumbai.
“The submissions just commenced. Previous filings made before March were canceled due to geopolitical circumstances. New filings have now occurred, including from Air India Express. Air India Express and IndiGo will both introduce international flights at Navi Mumbai,” he stated.
The airport anticipates that initial international services will focus on short-haul destinations, particularly in the Gulf region and nearby international markets.
“Initially, it will be short-haul sectors. It could include the Gulf and other nearby short-haul areas,” he added.
Flights To More Than Double By December
Navi Mumbai International Airport currently operates 149 flights daily to 46 destinations, serving over 20,000 passengers each day.
“So far, we have facilitated more than 2 million passengers,” the CEO said.
The airport expects significant growth in the upcoming months, projecting daily flight movements to more than double by year-end.
“Currently, we are handling about 149 flights to 45-46 destinations. By December, we aim to increase this to over 300 flights,” he explained.
Cargo To Play Central Role
The airport is heavily investing in cargo as a vital growth factor. The CEO emphasized that air freight, while representing a smaller volume, contributes significantly to trade value.
“Although air freight’s volume is relatively low, it constitutes nearly 30% by value. For India to achieve a true Viksit Bharat, air freight will be crucial,” he stated.
The airport’s master plan includes a cargo handling capacity of 3.2 million metric tonnes annually, closely aligning with India’s current air cargo throughput of about 3.35 million tonnes.
Domestic cargo operations are already gaining momentum, with belly cargo making up nearly 70% of current volumes at the airport.
Larger Terminal 2 Planned
Looking ahead, the airport operator has adjusted its expansion plans, now envisioning a considerably larger Terminal 2 than initially proposed.
Rather than a facility for 30 million passengers, the new terminal is being designed for approximately 50 million passengers. Once fully operational, the airport is projected to accommodate 90 million passengers annually, with international travelers constituting nearly half of Terminal 2’s capacity.
“Design work has just begun as we were previously considering a terminal for 30 million passengers. Now, we are planning a larger terminal and redesigning it,” the CEO said.
The airport operator indicated that further expansions would be phased, with additional capacity being introduced based on traffic growth and demand.
