Historic day for Daman: First direct Delhi flight takes off from NAMO Airport

The launch marks Daman's first-ever direct air connectivity, significantly reducing travel time to the national capital from 8–10 hours by road to around 2.5 hours by air.

Operated by state-owned regional carrier Alliance Air, the service is expected to strengthen connectivity, boost tourism, facilitate business travel and support industrial growth in the Union Territory.

NAMO Airport: A key infrastructure milestone

Envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NAMO Airport is a dual-use facility operating from the Indian Coast Guard Air Station (ICGAS), Daman.

The foundation stone for the civil terminal was laid by the Prime Minister on April 25, 2023, and the airport was inaugurated on June 5, 2026.

Developed by the Union Territory Administration at a cost of ₹124 crore on a 25-acre site, the project received ₹88 crore in financial support from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The 3,700-square-metre terminal has the capacity to handle 14 ATR aircraft movements per day and accommodate up to 3.67 lakh passengers annually.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by senior officials from the UT Administration, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Alliance Air, the Indian Coast Guard and local residents.

'Delhi now just 2.5 hours away'

Addressing the gathering, Ram Mohan Naidu said the launch marked a historic day for Daman.

"With its first flight itself, Daman is getting directly connected to the national capital. Instead of travelling through Surat or Mumbai and spending eight to 10 hours, Delhi will now be just 2.5 hours away. This has been made possible through Prime Minister Narendra Modi's transformative UDAN Scheme," the minister said.

He added that over the past 12 years, the Union Territory has benefited from more than 450 development projects worth over ₹13,000 crore, and said the airport had been named NAMO Airport as a tribute to the Prime Minister's vision and efforts to fulfil a long-standing demand of the people.

Boost for industry and tourism

The minister highlighted the region's strong industrial base, noting that over 7,000 industries operate across Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, while another 15,000-plus industries are located in nearby Vapi and Valsad.

Improved air connectivity, he said, would facilitate business travel, attract fresh investments and generate employment opportunities for local youth.

Naidu also underscored Daman's tourism potential, noting that the coastal destination attracts nearly 20 lakh visitors annually.

He said the government plans to extend the airport's runway to accommodate larger aircraft, including Airbus A320-family planes, enabling future connectivity with cities such as Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad and Patna.

Plans for regional aviation expansion

Referring to the growth of Diu Airport, the minister said annual passenger traffic there had increased from around 19,000 in 2013 to more than one lakh today.

He said the Ministry of Civil Aviation is working on developing a new terminal and an extended runway at Diu Airport to cater to rising demand.

Highlighting the economic significance of NAMO Airport, Naidu said the new connectivity would provide a major boost to the region's blue economy.

"Daman's fishery, marine products and food processing goods will now be able to reach markets across the country within hours. This will benefit the fishing community, open new markets for marine farmers and provide fresh momentum to the pharmaceutical industry in the region," he said.

UDAN expansion

The minister also announced that the Centre has extended the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme for another 10 years.

Under the modified scheme, the government has allocated ₹29,000 crore over the next decade to develop 100 new airports and 200 new helipads, further expanding India's regional aviation network.

Naidu concluded by thanking the Indian Coast Guard for its support in the development of NAMO Airport and congratulated the people of Daman on the commencement of commercial flight operations.

'Game-changer for the region'

Speaking at the event, Praful Patel, Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, described the airport as a transformative project for western India's industrial corridor.

"NAMO Airport will prove to be a game-changer for the industrial belt stretching from Valsad in Gujarat to Palghar in Maharashtra, opening up new opportunities for the youth. I am confident that within the next 15 years, the airport will expand significantly and emerge as a major driver of the regional economy," Patel said.

The commencement of scheduled commercial flights from NAMO Airport marks another milestone in the government's efforts to democratise air travel and integrate smaller cities into India's rapidly expanding aviation network.