Alliance Air launches first direct Delhi-Daman flight from newly operational NAMO Airport
Built at a cost of ₹124 crore, the airport can handle 14 ATR flights a day and 3.67 lakh passengers annually, with plans to accommodate larger aircraft and expand connectivity
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, Praful Patel, flag off the inaugural Daman-Delhi-Daman flight on Thursday.
NEW DELHI: Alliance Air has launched the first direct flight connecting Daman with the national capital, marking the commencement of commercial operations from the newly operational NAMO Airport in Daman and providing the Union Territory with its first-ever direct air link.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, Praful Patel, flagged off the inaugural Daman-Delhi-Daman flight on Thursday. The service is expected to significantly improve connectivity for the Union Territory, reducing travel time between Daman and Delhi from nearly 8-10 hours by road and rail to around 2.5 hours by air.
Developed as a dual-purpose airport operating from the Indian Coast Guard Air Station (ICGAS), Daman, the airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 5 this year after the foundation stone for its civil terminal was laid in April 2023.
Built at a cost of ₹124 crore on a 25-acre site, the 3,700-square-metre terminal has the capacity to handle 14 ATR flights daily and serve up to 3.67 lakh passengers annually. The Ministry of Civil Aviation reimbursed ₹88 crore towards the project.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ram Mohan Naidu said the new air service would strengthen regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme while opening new opportunities for trade, tourism and investment. He noted that the region is home to more than 7,000 industries across Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, besides over 15,000 industries in neighbouring Vapi and Valsad, all of which are expected to benefit from faster connectivity.
The Minister said nearly 20 lakh tourists visit Daman every year and expressed confidence that direct air connectivity would further increase tourist arrivals. He also said the government plans to extend the runway to enable operations of larger aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and improve connectivity to cities including Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad and Patna.
Highlighting the economic potential of the new airport, Naidu said improved air connectivity would support the region’s fisheries, marine products, food processing and pharmaceutical industries by enabling faster movement of goods to markets across the country.
The Minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding regional aviation through the Modified UDAN scheme, under which ₹29,000 crore has been earmarked over the next decade for the development of 100 new airports and 200 new helipads across India.
Praful Patel described NAMO Airport as a transformative project for the industrial corridor stretching from Valsad in Gujarat to Palghar in Maharashtra, saying it would generate new employment opportunities and emerge as a key driver of regional economic growth over the coming years.
