During the BCBA Logistics Conclave, the CEO remarked that customs authorities have finalized their assessment of the airport’s preparedness, with essential notifications for international operations already issued.
“Member Customs reviewed the readiness yesterday, and the necessary notifications have been published. We anticipate finalizing the last notification today, which will be succeeded by Section 45 approval and trial runs for courier and cargo operations. We’ll expect Customs to release a trade notice around July 5,” he mentioned.
The airport intends to initiate international freighter operations from July 15, gradually increasing to approximately 18 weekly freighter flights.
“We are commencing with freighters on July 15 and aim to expand to close to 18 weekly flights. Developments are also underway for passenger flights, with hopes for international passenger services to commence on July 15,” the CEO stated.
IndiGo, Air India Express To Lead International Operations
While the final international schedule is under formulation, the CEO confirmed that both IndiGo and Air India Express have submitted plans to begin international services from Navi Mumbai.
“The new filings have begun. Previous submissions made before March were retracted due to geopolitical circumstances. Updated filings have now taken place, including those by Air India Express. Both Air India Express and IndiGo plan to introduce international flights from Navi Mumbai,” he clarified.
The airport anticipates that initial international operations will concentrate on short-haul destinations, especially within the Gulf region and adjacent international markets.
“We will start with short-haul routes. Likely destinations include the Gulf and other nearby sectors,” he added.
Flights To More Than Double By December
Navi Mumbai International Airport currently manages 149 flights daily to 46 destinations and serves over 20,000 passengers each day.
“To date, we have handled more than 2 million passengers,” the CEO shared.
The airport is anticipating swift growth in the upcoming months, with daily flight operations predicted to more than double by year-end.
Cargo To Play Central Role
The airport is heavily investing in cargo as a crucial component of its long-term growth strategy. The CEO emphasized that air freight contributes a disproportionately high value to trade, despite representing a smaller percentage of total cargo volume.
“While air freight makes up a lower volume percentage, it accounts for nearly 30% by value. For India to evolve into a true Viksit Bharat, air freight will be vital,” he remarked.
The airport’s master plan allows for a cargo handling capacity of 3.2 million metric tonnes annually, closely aligning with India’s current annual air cargo throughput of approximately 3.35 million tonnes.
Domestic cargo movement is gaining momentum, with belly cargo constituting nearly 70% of current volumes at the airport.
Larger Terminal 2 Planned
Looking ahead, the airport operator has adjusted its expansion plans and is now developing a significantly larger Terminal 2 than initially proposed.
Rather than the previously planned 30-million-passenger facility, the new design envisions a capacity of around 50 million passengers. Once fully operational, the airport is expected to accommodate 90 million passengers annually, with international travelers making up nearly half of Terminal 2’s capacity.
“The design phase has just commenced as we shift from planning a 30-million-passenger terminal to a larger facility,” the CEO stated.
The airport operator noted that future expansions will be executed in phases, with new capacity being introduced in response to traffic growth and demand.
