India has added two greenfield mega-airports in six months.
Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) started commercial operations on 25 December 2025. Noida International Airport (DXN) at Jewar was inaugurated on 28 March 2026.
Together they give Delhi NCR and Mumbai a second major gateway each — easing pressure on Delhi’s IGI and Mumbai’s CSMIA.
Here’s what travellers need to know: when flights actually start, which airlines and routes are live, how to get to each airport, and when Navi Mumbai’s first international service begins on 15 July 2026.
Noida International Airport (DXN): What’s Open and When Flights Begin
Scheduled commercial flights have not yet started as of 24 April 2026, despite the 28 March inauguration.
Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu said operations would begin within 45–60 days of the inauguration — pointing to mid-April to late May 2026 for the first flights.
The launch now faces a fresh hurdle. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has rejected the security clearance of DXN’s Swiss CEO, Christoph Schnellmann.
The reason: a 2011 AvSec order requires the CEO of every greenfield airport in India to serve as the airport’s security coordinator — a role only an Indian national can hold. The Ministry of Home Affairs has declined to relax the rule.
DXN’s Aerodrome Security Programme (ASP) remains under review by BCAS. Without that clearance, commercial operations cannot formally commence.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation granted DXN its aerodrome licence on 6 March 2026. BCAS sign-off on the ASP is the last step before airline schedules and ticket sales are released.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| IATA / ICAO code | DXN / VIND |
| Operator | Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd (Zurich Airport International subsidiary) |
| Phase 1 capacity | 12 million passengers/year, 1 runway, 1 terminal |
| Ultimate capacity | 70 million passengers/year at full build-out |
| First commercial flights | Targeted mid-April to late May 2026; pending BCAS security clearance |
| International operations | Expected later in 2026 (around September) |
Launch Airlines and Routes
Three Indian carriers have confirmed DXN operations:
- IndiGo (6E) — launch carrier, expected to operate the inaugural flight
- Akasa Air (QP) — confirmed domestic operations
- Air India Express (IX) — confirmed domestic operations
Initial routes target major metros: Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Goa.
Exact timetables and fares will only be released once the Aerodrome Security Programme is cleared. Airlines typically open booking two to four weeks before operations start.
Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI): Already Flying, 46 Destinations by Summer
NMI has been live since 25 December 2025. As of April 2026, it is scaling from 22 daily departures at launch to 78 daily departures.
The summer schedule (29 March–24 October 2026) expands the domestic network from 16 destinations to 46.
The airport is operated by Adani Airports. Phase 1 is rated for 20 million passengers and 0.8 million tonnes of cargo annually, scaling to 90 million passengers across four terminals and two parallel runways at full build-out (targeted 2032).
Airlines Operating from NMI (April 2026)
| Airline | Destinations served |
|---|---|
| IndiGo | 30+ routes rolled out March–April 2026, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Nagpur, Patna, Srinagar, Vadodara |
| Air India Express | Delhi, Bengaluru; Abu Dhabi starting 15 July 2026 |
| Akasa Air | Delhi, Goa, Kochi, Ahmedabad |
| Star Air | Goa |
Top Routes by Frequency
Four routes account for most of NMI’s early traffic:
- Delhi — 9 flights daily
- Goa — 7 flights daily
- Bengaluru — 6 flights daily
- Kochi — 5 flights daily
By the end of summer 2026, NMI expects to operate up to 1,092 weekly flight movements across domestic routes alone.
Navi Mumbai’s First International Flight Starts 15 July
Air India Express will begin the airport’s first international passenger route to Abu Dhabi on 15 July 2026.
The service starts twice weekly on Wednesday and Friday and increases to three weekly flights from 29 July with a Sunday service.
Travellers should verify the final schedule with Air India Express before departure.
How to Reach Each Airport
Getting to Noida International Airport (DXN)
DXN sits at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar, roughly 72 km from Delhi’s IGI Airport. It is served by the six-lane Yamuna Expressway.
- By road: ~90 minutes from central Delhi, ~60 minutes from Noida, ~45 minutes from Greater Noida, and under 2 hours from Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan.
- By rapid rail (future): A 72 km Ghaziabad–Jewar RRTS-cum-metro corridor is approved. Phase 1 is targeted for 2027, with full completion by 2030 and an 80-minute journey to Delhi IGI.
- By metro (future): A separate Noida Airport Metro link is under planning.
Getting to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI)
NMI sits in Ulwe, Raigad district, about 14 km from the Chirle end of the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (Atal Setu). The 21.8 km sea bridge connects Sewri in south Mumbai to Navi Mumbai.
- By road: 30–45 minutes from south Mumbai via MTHL + coastal road; 20–30 minutes from Navi Mumbai hubs like CBD Belapur and Kharghar.
- By metro (current): Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1 connects CBD Belapur to Pendhar; take an NMMT A-3 AC shuttle from Belapur to the airport.
- By metro (future): Mumbai Metro Line 8 (Gold Line) will directly link CSMIA to NMI with a 40–45 minute journey, targeted for 2029.
- By water taxi: NMI will be accessible via water taxi services linking Mumbai’s eastern waterfront to the airport side.
Noida vs Delhi, Navi Mumbai vs Mumbai — Which to Fly From?
| Factor | Delhi (DEL) vs Noida (DXN) | Mumbai (BOM) vs Navi Mumbai (NMI) |
|---|---|---|
| Network breadth | DEL wins — handled over 77 million passengers in 2024 with a full global network | BOM wins today; NMI catching up on domestic |
| Congestion | DXN will be far less crowded in its opening months | NMI is a relief valve for BOM’s slot-constrained runway |
| Proximity | DEL is closer to central Delhi; DXN wins for Noida, Agra, western UP | BOM closer to south/central Mumbai; NMI wins for Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Pune direction |
| International flights | DEL only for now; DXN international expected late 2026 | NMI’s first international service to Abu Dhabi starts 15 July 2026 |
Rule of thumb: pick the airport closest to where you actually start or end the trip. Both DXN and NMI are designed as full secondary hubs, not regional overflow — the ground commute saved is usually worth more than a small fare difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I be able to book a flight from Noida Airport (DXN)?
Airlines typically open bookings two to four weeks before the first commercial flights. The original target window was mid-April to late May 2026. The launch now depends on BCAS clearing the airport’s Aerodrome Security Programme, which has been delayed by a pending CEO security clearance issue. Check IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India Express directly for the first schedules.
Can I fly internationally from Navi Mumbai Airport right now?
The first international service is scheduled to begin on 15 July 2026, with Air India Express flying to Abu Dhabi. Until then, international passengers must continue using another airport.
What are the IATA codes for the new airports?
Noida International Airport uses DXN. Navi Mumbai International Airport uses NMI.
How far is Jewar Airport from Delhi?
DXN is roughly 72 km from Delhi’s IGI Airport by road via the Yamuna Expressway, and about 90 km from central Delhi. A rapid rail link is planned but not yet operational.
Will domestic fares be cheaper from the new airports?
Airlines typically offer introductory fares in the first weeks at new airports. Noida’s AERA-approved interim User Development Fee is ₹490 for departures and ₹210 for arrivals — broadly in line with other major Indian airports. Expect modest savings initially, but don’t assume long-term price parity with the older hubs.
Sources
- Noida International Airport — Aerodrome License Press Release (6 March 2026)
- Navi Mumbai International Airport — Official Website
- Business Standard — Commercial Flights from Noida Airport to Start in 45–60 Days
- Free Press Journal — NMIA International Operations Delayed Due to West Asia War
- Free Press Journal — NMI to Connect 46 Destinations in Summer 2026
- Air India Newsroom — Air India Group Operations from NMI
- Aviation A2Z — PM Modi Inaugurates Noida International Airport (28 March 2026)
- Press Information Bureau — Aerodrome License Granted to Noida International Airport
- Aviation A2Z — Noida Airport CEO Rejected Over Nationality Rule (22 April 2026)
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