The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is edging closer to commencing operations, as the testing of the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) system— an essential component of aeronautical ground lighting that ensures pilots maintain the correct glide slope during landings — was carried out on Thursday on the airport’s South Runway.
The PAPI system, which plays a vital role in ensuring safe landings, is one of the final elements needed before the airport can begin its first-ever flight trials.
The completion of the calibration process means that the South Runway is now one step closer to being fully operational, paving the way for commercial flights in the near future, NMIA officials said.
With this milestone achieved, a source said that a commercial plane is expected to make landing at NMIA in January 2025.
In October, an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-295 aircraft had successfully landed on the South Runway. This inaugural landing not only tested the runway itself but also the taxiways, air traffic control systems, and overall handling procedures.
Airport may start ops by early 2025
The Navi Mumbai International Airport, which began construction in August 2021, is expected to be operational by early 2025.
Once completed, the airport is set to become one of the largest greenfield international airports in the country, with a capacity to handle 60 million passengers and 1.5 million tonnes of cargo annually, as outlined in its Concession Agreement.
The 1,160-hectare site will feature two parallel runways, capable of simultaneous and independent aircraft operations, and three passenger terminals, in addition to state-of-the-art infrastructure.
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