Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, along with Administrator Praful Patel, flagged off the inaugural flight on the Daman-Delhi-Daman route from the newly operational NAMO Airport in Daman on July 16, 2026. Government-owned regional carrier Alliance Air launched this first-ever direct air link for the Union Territory, reducing travel time to Delhi from 8-10 hours to just 2.5 hours.
The NAMO Airport is a dual-purpose facility operating from the Indian Coast Guard Air Station, Daman. Developed by the UT Administration at a cost of ₹124 crore on a 25-acre site, the project received ₹88 crore reimbursement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The terminal spans 3,700 square metres and can currently handle 14 ATR flights daily with an annual capacity of 3.67 lakh passengers.
The airport's development is part of the transformative UDAN Scheme, which the Ministry has extended for an additional 10 years with an unprecedented outlay of ₹29,000 crore to develop 100 new airports and 200 new helipads across India. The region is home to over 7,000 industries in Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, with another 15,000-plus industries in neighboring Vapi and Valsad, making improved connectivity crucial for business, investment, and employment opportunities.
Tourism represents another significant economic driver, with nearly 20 lakh tourists visiting Daman annually. The Ministry plans to enable landing of larger aircraft including Airbus A320-type planes by extending the runway and adding connectivity to cities like Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Patna. The airport will also benefit Daman's blue economy by enabling rapid transport of fishery, marine products, and food processing goods to markets across the country.
The Minister cited Diu Airport's growth from 19,000 passengers in 2013 to over one lakh today as evidence of the scheme's success, noting that development of a new terminal and additional larger runway at Diu Airport is underway to meet rising demand. Administrator Praful Patel stated that NAMO Airport will be a game-changer for the entire industrial workforce belt from Valsad in Gujarat to Palghar in Maharashtra, predicting significant expansion within the next 15 years.