Yes, Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) has designated smoking areas. The Phase 1 terminal opened to commercial operations on 25 December 2025, and the airport is still rolling out final signage and amenity confirmations. Smoking is permitted at marked kerbside zones on departures and arrivals levels; airside (post-security) smoking-room locations are being finalised — ask at the airport information desk or follow the standard Indian-airport smoking-cabin signage near the gate areas.
Navi Mumbai International Airport (IATA: NMI; ICAO: VAMV) is the Adani-Group-developed greenfield airport at Ulwe, about 35 km from central Mumbai and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM). It is now Mumbai’s second commercial airport and was built to relieve BOM, which has been operating beyond design capacity for years. Phase 1 has a single terminal and a single runway, with an annual passenger capacity of 20 million.
Opening Timeline
- 8 October 2025: Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- 25 December 2025: First commercial flights — initially around 22 daily departures.
- February 2026: Full 24x7 operations confirmed once staffing and ATC procedures stabilised.
- March 2026 summer schedule: Domestic network expanded from 16 to 46 destinations.
- 29 March 2026 (original target): International operations were planned but postponed due to the West Asia conflict that erupted in late February 2026.
- April 2026: ~22,000 daily passengers across roughly 160 aircraft movements; scaling toward 78 daily departures.
- May 2026 (target): International operations expected to begin, with around 35 daily international flights according to CIDCO.
Terminal Layout — Phase 1
NMI Phase 1 is a single integrated terminal building handling both arrivals and departures. The terminal is large, modern, and built around clear linear concourses — the kind of layout where most gates are within a 10-12 minute walk of the central security and baggage claim hall. A second runway is already under construction, and a third runway has been planned.
Domestic departures and arrivals are operational and active. International departures are not yet flying as of April 2026 but are expected by May 2026.
Smoking at Navi Mumbai Airport
This is an honest disclaimer up front: because NMI Phase 1 is only a few months old, the comprehensive smoking-zone map you would expect at a mature airport like Delhi T3 or Mumbai BOM T2 simply does not exist yet in public sources or the airport’s own published guides. Here is what is confirmed:
Landside (Pre-Security)
Outdoor kerbside smoking is permitted at the departures and arrivals frontages, in line with standard Indian airport practice. Look for the smoking pictogram and ash bins. The kerbside areas have generous breathing room — NMI’s drop-off zones were designed with future capacity in mind, so they are noticeably less cramped than BOM’s older T1 frontage.
If you are coming by road, the multi-level car park has standard “no smoking inside” rules; step outside the car park structure to the kerbside zone for a smoke before entering the terminal.
Airside (Post-Security)
Indian airports are required under COTPA to provide enclosed smoking rooms at airports handling international traffic, and modern Indian airports almost universally also provide them in domestic departures. NMI’s airside smoking-room locations have not yet been published in detail. Travellers report enclosed smoking cabins near the gate concourses, but exact gate numbers are still in flux as the schedule scales up.
Practical tip: Once you clear security, look for the standard Indian-airport smoking-cabin signage (a small cigarette pictogram on a ceiling sign), or ask at the airport information desk near the gate area. As more passengers cycle through and we receive community confirmations, this guide will be updated with exact gate-level locations — please use the Contribute button at the bottom of this page if you have first-hand details.
Airlines Operating from NMI
As of April 2026:
- IndiGo (6E)
- Akasa Air (QP)
- Air India Express (IX)
- Star Air
IndiGo previously committed to scaling up to 100+ daily departures from NMI by March 2026, though that figure remains a roadmap rather than a current reality. International operations from May 2026 are expected to include Middle East routes given the airport’s scale and Adani Group’s existing carrier relationships.
NMI vs BOM — Which Mumbai Airport?
NMI and BOM are completely separate airports approximately 35 km apart, with no airside connection. If you are booking a flight to or from “Mumbai”, confirm the IATA code carefully:
- BOM — Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, in Andheri, central Mumbai. Mature smoking facilities across T1 and T2 (full guide).
- NMI — Navi Mumbai International Airport, in Ulwe (Navi Mumbai). Phase 1 facilities still maturing (this page).
Note that BOM’s Terminal 1 begins partial closure for redevelopment in Q3 FY26, with traffic shifting to BOM T2 and NMI through 2028-29 — so over the next few years the practical balance of Mumbai air traffic between the two airports will shift further.
Tips for Smokers at Navi Mumbai Airport
- The airport is new — smoking-zone signage and the published terminal map are still being completed. Allow extra time and ask staff if you cannot find a marked area.
- Use the kerbside zones if airside locations are unclear. Stepping out for a smoke at NMI’s spacious frontage is generally easier than at BOM’s congested T1 kerb.
- Personal lighters and matchboxes are confiscated at security — the same as every Indian airport. Cigarettes in sealed packs are fine in hand luggage.
- E-cigarettes are illegal in India under the PECA Act 2019. The Union Health Ministry clarified in 2023 that personal possession is also banned. First-offence penalties go up to 1 year imprisonment plus a ₹1 lakh fine; repeat offences up to 3 years and ₹5 lakh.
- Smoking outside designated areas carries a ₹200 fine under COTPA — Maharashtra has not raised this base penalty.
- Confirm your airport before leaving home. “Mumbai” tickets can be either BOM or NMI; the codes are very different and the airports are 35 km apart.
- Help us update this page. If you have spotted exact smoking-room locations at NMI airside, use the Contribute button at the bottom of this page — community input is what keeps these guides accurate as new airports scale up.
All Smoking Areas at Navi Mumbai Airport
| Location | Section | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departures kerbside frontage | Phase 1 Terminal | Outdoor | Confirmed (landside) |
| Arrivals kerbside | Phase 1 Terminal | Outdoor | Confirmed (landside) |
| Domestic airside smoking cabins | Phase 1 Terminal | Indoor | Reported, exact gate locations pending |
| International airside smoking | Phase 1 Terminal | Indoor | Pending — international ops start ~May 2026 |
| Multi-level car park | Outside | Outdoor | Smoking only outside the structure |
If you are connecting via other Indian airports, see our guides for Mumbai BOM, Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. For the other major new Indian airport, see our Noida International Airport (DXN) page.