Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has begun international operations, marking a major step for the long-awaited second airport serving the Mumbai region. Airlines have started shifting select international flights to the new facility.

The move is expected to ease congestion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), which has been operating near full capacity for years. Passengers flying out of the Mumbai region will now have more options.

The new airport has been built to handle large passenger volumes in phases. In its first phase, it will serve both domestic and international routes, with capacity set to grow as more terminals open.

Aviation experts say the second airport could change travel patterns in the region, bringing relief to flyers from Navi Mumbai, Thane and Pune who earlier had to cross the city to reach CSMIA. More airlines are expected to announce their NMIA schedules in the coming months. Officials said more airlines are in talks to start services, and cargo operations at the new airport are also expected to scale up soon.