Navi Mumbai Airport Opens: Flights Get Water Cannon Salute, Easing Mumbai Congestion

• Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) commenced commercial flight operations on Thursday, marking Mumbai's transition to a multi-airport system.
• First arrival and departure flights received a traditional water cannon salute; PM Narendra Modi had inaugurated the airport on October 8.
• Developed by Adani Group, NMIA initially operates 12 hours daily, handling 15 departures by IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and Star Air to 9 destinations.
• Phase 1, built at Rs 19,650 crore, features one terminal and runway, with an annual capacity of 20 million passengers, expanding to 90 million across five phases.
• The airport incorporates Digi Yatra, affordable retail, and lotus-inspired architecture, with 24/7 operations expected from February next year.

Why It Matters: Navi Mumbai International Airport is now operational, significantly expanding Mumbai's aviation capacity and easing congestion.