The Modi government is set to transform air travel in Mumbai with the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), where passengers will soon be able to clear immigration at the first airport itself for connecting international flights. The airport, which will handle two crore passengers annually initially, is scheduled to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on October 8, with commercial flights starting within a month.
Travelers from cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, and Hyderabad flying to Mumbai will be able to clear immigration at NMIA before boarding their next flight, allowing a seamless transit similar to hubs in Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, or Singapore Changi. Officials said the key difference will be “Atma Nirbharta,” with the majority flying on Indian carriers rather than being feeders for foreign airlines.
Delhi is also adopting a similar model. Passengers from Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Varanasi will clear immigration on their way to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) for international connections. Meanwhile, the Noida International Airport (NIA), expected to start operations later this year, will focus mainly on domestic transfers.
An official told TOI, “We are working to set up a true hub-and-spoke at NMIA, CSMIA, and Delhi's IGIA with domestic networks of big and upcoming airlines, including Air India group, IndiGo and Akasa, flying in passengers who then take connecting flights on them to the rest of the world. Ditto on the way back.”
The push for seamless immigration is part of a larger plan to strengthen India’s airline ecosystem and reduce dependence on foreign hubs. Indian carriers’ share of international traffic rose to 46% in 2024 from the low 30s a decade ago, supported by policies prioritising Indian airlines and easing aircraft leasing rules to overcome supply chain constraints.
Officials said the dual airport system will position Mumbai as the primary gateway for international travelers from India while linking Tier II and III cities to the globe efficiently.
Travelers from cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, and Hyderabad flying to Mumbai will be able to clear immigration at NMIA before boarding their next flight, allowing a seamless transit similar to hubs in Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, or Singapore Changi. Officials said the key difference will be “Atma Nirbharta,” with the majority flying on Indian carriers rather than being feeders for foreign airlines.
Delhi is also adopting a similar model. Passengers from Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Varanasi will clear immigration on their way to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) for international connections. Meanwhile, the Noida International Airport (NIA), expected to start operations later this year, will focus mainly on domestic transfers.
An official told TOI, “We are working to set up a true hub-and-spoke at NMIA, CSMIA, and Delhi's IGIA with domestic networks of big and upcoming airlines, including Air India group, IndiGo and Akasa, flying in passengers who then take connecting flights on them to the rest of the world. Ditto on the way back.”
The push for seamless immigration is part of a larger plan to strengthen India’s airline ecosystem and reduce dependence on foreign hubs. Indian carriers’ share of international traffic rose to 46% in 2024 from the low 30s a decade ago, supported by policies prioritising Indian airlines and easing aircraft leasing rules to overcome supply chain constraints.
Officials said the dual airport system will position Mumbai as the primary gateway for international travelers from India while linking Tier II and III cities to the globe efficiently.
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