Navi Mumbai Airport Opens: 48 Flights, 4,000 Passengers on Day 1

• Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) commenced commercial operations on Thursday, handling 48 flights to nine domestic destinations and serving over 4,000 passengers on its inaugural day.
• The first flight, IndiGo 6E460 from Bengaluru, landed at 8 am, receiving a water cannon salute, followed by the first departure to Hyderabad at 8:40 am.
• Despite the successful launch, passengers faced challenges including unclear road signage, ongoing construction, and limited public transport options, leading to reliance on app-based cabs.
• Four airlines—IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air India Express, and Star Air—operated from NMIA, which is developed and operated by Adani Airports Holdings Limited.
• The new airport, expected to alleviate congestion at Mumbai's main airport, also saw cultural programs and a commemorative postal cover release, with the D B Patil naming issue resurfacing.

Why It Matters: NMIA successfully launched with 48 flights and 4,000 passengers, despite initial logistical challenges.