Kolkata: Akasa Air is set to launch a direct daily flight between Kolkata and Navi Mumbai from March 29, marking the first service announced to Navi Mumbai International Airport since commercial operations began there on Christmas Day. The new route adds a new option for travellers who have long depended on Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, often factoring in extended road travel from the city’s eastern and southern suburbs.The flight is timed for convenience on both ends. It will arrive in Kolkata from Navi Mumbai at 4.30 pm and depart Kolkata at 5.15 pm every day, creating a predictable schedule for business travellers, families, and frequent flyers. For residents and professionals based in Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Vashi, Kharghar, Uran, and neighbouring parts of Raigad district, the service is expected to translate into faster airport access and smoother connections.The biggest advantage is time saved on the ground. Reaching Mumbai’s main airport from Panvel can take around 2.5 hours depending on traffic, while the commute to Navi Mumbai International Airport is roughly half that. With future plans to connect the two airports through a high-speed metro corridor, the region is positioning itself as a more efficient gateway for both domestic and international travel.Akasa Air expects strong demand from sectors such as pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and technology, where there is a steady movement of skilled professionals between Kolkata and the Mumbai metropolitan region. The airline also anticipates that travellers living in areas like Vashi will find the new airport location especially practical for routine work trips and short-notice travel.The launch also strengthens Akasa’s growing footprint in Kolkata. Since starting operations from the city in 2023 with two daily flights, the airline has expanded to 11 daily departures: three each to Bengaluru and Mumbai, two to Delhi, and one each to Ahmedabad, Pune, and Port Blair. The Navi Mumbai service will become Akasa’s 12th daily departure from Kolkata. Akasa has also indicated plans to begin an international flight from Kolkata, with the destination to be finalised.
