An aerodrome licence certifies that an airport complies with the necessary safety, operational, and infrastructure standards required for air transport operations.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is anticipated to commence operations in May. Its operator, Adani Airport Holdings, plans to submit the required permits to the aviation regulator next month. On Tuesday, officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL), and the City Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (Cidco) convened for a stakeholders’ meeting.
The airport is being developed through a joint venture between AAHL and Cidco. This greenfield project, which is set to eventually accommodate 90 million passengers annually—making it the second-largest airport in India—was initially scheduled to begin operations in December 2024. However, its inauguration has been delayed multiple times, now targeting May 15. According to a DGCA official, AAHL will file for the aerodrome licence on March 5 or 6 for approval.
Streamlining NMIA’s operations is critical as it is expected to manage the passenger traffic from Mumbai’s T1 terminal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), which is set for a 3–4 year redevelopment period. The CSMIA is also managed by the Adani Group.