Navi Mumbai International Airport Completes ORAT Exercise: Set to Begin Operations on December 25

The Navi Mumbai International Airport has successfully completed its Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) exercise, signaling its preparedness to commence commercial operations from December 25. This exercise serves as a critical indicator of an airport's readiness to begin serving passengers.

In a statement, the airport announced, "As we prepare for flights on December 25, our ORAT Team successfully completed our first-ever full-scale integrated passenger trial with hundreds of simulated travellers. Every step from check-in with IndiGo, Akasa, and Air India Express to security, boarding, and baggage reclaim was tested to perfection. We extend our gratitude to our 'first passengers,' CISF, L&T, airline partners, and the entire NMIAL team for making this milestone possible."

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ORAT is essential for bridging the gap between construction completion and operational functionality. Its primary objective is to ensure that all facilities, systems, and equipment are fully operational, with staff properly trained and capable of performing effectively in the new environment.

The complexity of airport operations makes ORAT particularly crucial. With numerous interconnected systems and stakeholders, even small issues can create significant disruptions. ORAT ensures seamless integration and operation of all components, including baggage handling, security protocols, passenger flow, and both airside and landside operations.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport has been assigned the IATA code NMI, while Mumbai's existing airport operates under the code BOM. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has designated VANM as the code for NMIA.

Three airlines will commence flights from the new airport on opening day: IndiGo, Akasa, and Air India Express. The inaugural flight will be IndiGo 6E460 arriving from Bengaluru, scheduled to land at 8 am on December 25. The first departure will be IndiGo 6E882, taking off for Hyderabad at 8:40 am. During its first month of operation, NMIA will function for 12 hours daily, from 8 am to 8 pm, managing 23 scheduled departures each day.

The opening of NMIA represents a significant milestone in India's aviation history, as Mumbai will become the first Indian city to operate dual airports simultaneously. This achievement places Mumbai among global metropolitan centers like London, New York, Paris, and Tokyo that maintain multiple airports.

Mumbai's existing airport ranks among the world's busiest single-runway facilities. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) recently set a new operational record on November 21, handling 1,036 Air Traffic Movements in a 24-hour period, surpassing its previous benchmark of 1,032 ATMs established on November 11, 2023.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport will provide essential growth capacity for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and enable expansion of air travel services from the city. It is positioned to become one of India's busiest and most important aviation hubs.

The airport has been developed and will be operated through a Public Private Partnership between Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), a subsidiary of Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL) holding a 74 percent majority stake, and the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO), a Government of Maharashtra enterprise, which holds the remaining 26 percent. AAHL operates as a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd, the flagship incubator of the Adani Group. In its initial phase, NMIA will have capacity to handle 20 million passengers per annum and 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo annually.

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