Media Release
Mangaluru, Dec 25: IndiGo on Thursday launched a daily direct flight between Mangaluru and Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), marking the commencement of commercial connectivity to India’s newest greenfield airport on Christmas Day.
With this launch, Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) joins a select group of airports across the country connected to NMIA from the first day of operations, as Navi Mumbai becomes the second airport serving the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The inaugural flight, IndiGo 6E 865 from Navi Mumbai, arrived in Mangaluru with a full complement of 187 passengers, while the return service, 6E 866, departed with 186 passengers—reflecting strong demand from Day 1.
Captain Prabhu Vaippan, along with crew members, welcomed passengers on the inaugural flight, while a family travelling from Mangaluru to Navi Mumbai participated in the lamp-lighting and cake-cutting ceremony at the departure hall, receiving their boarding cards from officials of IndiGo and MIA. A passenger scheduled on the inaugural flight also took part in lighting the symbolic lamp, adding a personal touch to the celebrations.
With the addition of Navi Mumbai, the Mangaluru–MMR sector now offers travellers five daily flight options — four operated by IndiGo and one by Air India Express — enhancing choice, flexibility, and convenience for both business and leisure passengers.
The new route strengthens connectivity between coastal Karnataka and the Mumbai region, while adding Navi Mumbai as Mangaluru’s seventh domestic destination. MIA currently offers services to Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram.
NMIA is developed and operated by Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL). The timely launch of airline operations from multiple cities reflects the group’s capability to deliver and operationalise large-scale aviation infrastructure projects with speed, coordination, and execution discipline.
As NMIA steadily expands its domestic network, new routes such as Mangaluru–Navi Mumbai are expected to play a key role in easing congestion at Mumbai’s primary airport and supporting the region’s long-term aviation growth.