Union Minister Naidu flags off inaugural flight from NAMO Airport, Daman

In a landmark moment for the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, along with Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, Shri Praful Patel, flagged off the inaugural flight on the Daman–Delhi–Daman route from the newly operational NAMO Airport, Daman on July 16, 2026. Government owned regional carrier Alliance Air launched the flight, marking Daman’s first-ever direct air link.

Daman Airport envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is a dual-purpose facility operating out of the Indian Coast Guard Air Station (ICGAS), Daman. The foundation stone for the civil terminal was laid by the Prime Minister on 25 April 2023 and the airport was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 5 June 2026.

Developed by the UT Administration at a cost of Rs 124 crore on a 25-acre site, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation reimbursing Rs 88 crore towards the project, the terminal spans 3,700 square metres and can currently handle 14 ATR flights a day, with a capacity of 3.67 lakh passengers annually.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Praful Patel, Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, said, “NAMO Airport will prove to be a game-changer for the entire industrial workforce belt stretching from Valsad in Gujarat to Palghar in Maharashtra, opening up new opportunities for the youth of this region. I am confident that within the next 15 years, we will see NAMO Airport, Daman, expand many times over, emerging as a game-changer for the region’s economy.”(UPDATED ON 17TH JULY 2026)