Navi Mumbai International Airport, originally set to open on 15 May, has been postponed until at least August. The delay was confirmed by a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), citing the airport’s lack of readiness. The NOTAM is valid until 6 August, with a possibility of extension if conditions remain unchanged.

This postponement is a significant setback for passengers and airlines, as the airport was seen as a vital alternative to the congested Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. It is expected to ease air traffic congestion and improve connectivity in western India.

In March, the airport was included in India’s Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP), detailing key infrastructure such as runway length, aircraft parking, and fuel availability. However, important details on take-off and landing routes were missing, indicating incomplete preparedness. Additionally, 225 obstacles—86 buildings, 79 hilltops, 23 power transmission towers, 12 mobile towers, and eight floodlight poles—have been catalogued with their height and coordinates to ensure safe aircraft movement.

Regulatory and safety approvals are still pending, and no flight operations will be allowed until all critical services and navigational pathways meet aviation standards. The delay occurs amid steady growth in India’s civil aviation sector, with the Navi Mumbai airport seen as crucial to expanding capacity.

Authorities will monitor progress and provide updates, with the next expected after the current NOTAM expires in early August.