A significant milestone has been achieved in the development of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, with the inaugural landing of an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-295 aircraft on its newly completed 3,700-meter runway. The event, which took place on Friday, was graced by the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who was onboard the aircraft.
This landing marks a key step forward for the airport, which is a joint venture between Adani Airports and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDC). The first phase of the project is set to be completed by March 2025, and construction is progressing steadily. Currently, 75% of the terminal building is already complete.
Jeet Adani, in a post on X, celebrated the occasion, stating, “A historic moment for Navi Mumbai as we celebrate the first landing on the new airport with the Indian Air Force’s C-295! Grateful for the support of @IAF_MCC, including a stunning low pass by the Su-30. This marks the dawn of a new era in Indian aviation, where the sky is no longer the limit. Together, we soar higher!”
Spanning a vast 1,200 hectares, the state-of-the-art Navi Mumbai International Airport is designed to be a major aviation hub. Upon completion, it will feature four terminals and two runways, with the capacity to accommodate 90 million passengers annually. The airport will also boast parking for 350 aircraft and a cargo capacity of 2.6 million tonnes. The initial phases of Terminal 1 are expected to cater to 20 million passengers and handle 0.8 million tonnes of cargo.
The landing of the IAF C-295 highlights the impressive progress being made in the construction of the Navi Mumbai International Airport. This new airport is poised to become a major contributor to the growth of India’s aviation sector, offering enhanced connectivity and a world-class travel experience for passengers.
