NAMO Airport Daman Begins Commercial Flights with Direct Delhi Air Link

New Delhi, July 17, 2026;

Daman entered a new phase of air connectivity as the first scheduled commercial flight between Daman and New Delhi commenced from the newly operational NAMO Airport. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, along with Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Administrator Praful Patel, flagged off the inaugural Alliance Air service, marking the Union Territory‘s first direct flight to the national capital.

The launch significantly reduces travel time between Daman and Delhi to around two-and-a-half hours, replacing the lengthy road journeys via Surat or Mumbai that previously took several hours. The new service is expected to improve accessibility for residents, business travellers and tourists.

NAMO Airport has been developed as a dual-use facility within the Indian Coast Guard Air Station in Daman. The civil terminal project was initiated with the foundation stone laid in April 2023 and the airport was formally inaugurated in June 2026. Built across 25 acres at an investment of ₹124 crore, the airport includes a 3,700-square-metre passenger terminal capable of handling 14 ATR aircraft movements daily and an annual passenger capacity of nearly 3.67 lakh.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Ram Mohan Naidu said the new route reflects the expanding reach of India’s regional aviation network under the UDAN initiative. He noted that improved connectivity would make travel easier for people while creating fresh opportunities for commerce, tourism and industrial growth across the region.

The minister said the Union Territory has witnessed large-scale infrastructure development over the past decade, with investments exceeding ₹13,000 crore across hundreds of projects. He added that the airport has been named NAMO Airport as a tribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s efforts in fulfilling the long-pending demand for air connectivity in Daman.

Officials believe the new flight service will strengthen one of western India’s major industrial belts, where thousands of manufacturing units operate across Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, along with neighbouring Vapi and Valsad. Faster air access is expected to support business expansion, attract investment and generate employment for local youth.

Tourism is also expected to receive a boost, as Daman attracts nearly 20 lakh visitors annually. The Civil Aviation Ministry has indicated plans to expand airport infrastructure in the future, including runway extension to accommodate larger Airbus A320-category aircraft and introduce additional flights connecting cities such as Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad and Patna.

Highlighting the economic impact, the minister said improved air services would help sectors such as fisheries, marine exports, food processing and pharmaceuticals by enabling quicker transportation of high-value products to markets across the country.

He also announced that the Centre has extended the UDAN regional connectivity programme for another ten years. Under the revised scheme, the government has allocated ₹29,000 crore to establish 100 new airports and 200 helipads nationwide, further expanding India’s regional aviation network.

Administrator Praful Patel described the airport as a transformational project for the industrial corridor extending from Gujarat’s Valsad district to Maharashtra’s Palghar region. He expressed confidence that the airport would witness substantial expansion over the coming years and become a major driver of regional economic development.

Senior officials from the Airports Authority of India, Alliance Air, the Indian Coast Guard and the Union Territory Administration, along with local residents, attended the inaugural event, which marked the beginning of scheduled commercial operations from NAMO Airport, Daman.