Navi Mumbai Airport Opens: First Commercial Flight Lands with Water Cannon Salute

• Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) commenced commercial flight operations on December 25.
• An IndiGo flight from Bengaluru was the first to land, receiving a traditional water cannon salute.
• Initially, NMIA will handle 15 flights daily for 12 hours (8 AM - 8 PM), connecting to 9 destinations.
• The first phase, costing 19,650 crore rupees, was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on October 8.
• Developed by NMIAL (Adani Group 74%, CIDCO 26%), it aims for 90 million annual passengers upon full completion.

Why It Matters: NMIA begins operations, marking a new era for Mumbai's air travel and reducing congestion.