The Navi Mumbai International Airport has completed its Phase 1 facilities, including parking capacity for 42 commercial aircraft stands and 23 stands for private jets and general aviation aircraft, addressing a long-standing shortage in the Mumbai region.
The first phase of the project is designed to accommodate an annual capacity of 2 crore passengers and lay the groundwork for future expansion of parking infrastructure. The complete project aims to accommodate over 360 commercial aircraft stands, around 89 private aircraft positions, and ample cargo parking.
The plan includes what executives described as India’s largest general aviation tower with hangars and apron space for corporate and leisure aircraft. The general aviation area will be connected to the rest of the airside to ensure operational efficiency. Officials have issued notices to owners of private aircraft at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, instructing them to prepare for relocation to the new facilities.
“All private planes have to be parked, and hence the need for parking will be huge. We also have forecasts from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regarding the number of people who have applied for licences. So there will be a need for space to park somewhere,” said Arun Bansal, Chief Executive Officer of Adani Airport Holdings, the primary developer of the new Navi Mumbai airport.
Sources indicate that while there are currently slots available for 19 private jets at T1 at the Mumbai airport, all of them are expected to be relocated soon to NMIA, which is expected to be inaugurated in September.
“Private owners of almost all hangars, except the two at the back, have now been given notice. There was no other choice of accommodations,” said Bansal.
At the Navi Mumbai airport, Phase 1 of commercial aircraft parking comprises 42 stands, 29 of which are contact gates. The airport has one runway, 3,700 meters long, supported by two parallel taxiways to facilitate smooth aircraft movements.
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In later phases, commercial stand capacity will increase in stages to 153 stands, then 187, and finally to more than 360 parking and holding positions in the final phase, as per officials. This will include a mix of contact and remote stands to accommodate both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft.
Navi Mumbai airport to have integrated cargo terminal
Cargo operations will be supported by an integrated cargo terminal on the eastern side, featuring approximately 79 dedicated cargo stands. Facilities include semi-automated material handling systems, cold chain logistics, specialised storage for perishables and hazardous materials, and 100 per cent screening for export cargo.
The airport’s site, located 14 km from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, is designed to facilitate multimodal freight movement between sea and air.
The layout of NMIA has been designed to integrate parking for all categories of aircraft, providing direct taxiway access to the runways. Terminals will be linked on the airside, allowing passengers to transfer between flights without having to exit and re-enter secure areas. The plan includes minimising walking distances through travelators and, in later phases, an Automated People Mover will connect terminals and parking zones.
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Officials said the phased development of parking capacity is timed with the growth forecast in air traffic.
With annual passenger numbers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region expected to rise to 25 crore by 2050, NMIA’s parking will increase from Phase 1 levels to support an eventual 9 crore passengers per year. This includes maintaining significant general aviation capacity and scaling commercial and cargo parking in parallel.
