Alliance Air’s Delhi flight marks the start of commercial operations at NAMO Airport in Daman.
An important turning point in the growth of the aviation infrastructure in the area and the start of commercial operations at the recently opened NAMO Airport in Daman has been reached with Alliance Air‘s launch of the first direct flight service between Daman and Delhi. On July 16, 2026, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and Praful Patel, Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, launched the first Daman–Delhi–Daman flight.
The launch cuts travel time to almost 2.5 hours by giving Daman a direct air connectivity to the nation’s capital. Travellers used to frequently have to pass through Surat or Mumbai, and trips may take eight to ten hours. The new service is anticipated to increase accessibility for locals, tourists, and business travellers while fortifying Daman’s ties to important Indian economic hubs.
Operating out of the Indian Coast Guard Air Station (ICGAS), Daman, NAMO Airport is a dual-use facility. The airport was inaugurated in June 2026 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisioned it. The civil terminal’s foundation stone was placed in April 2023. The airport, which spans 25 acres and has a 3,700-square-meter terminal, was built by the Union Territory Administration for ₹124 crore, of which ₹88 crore was reimbursed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The facility can seat approximately 3.67 lakh passengers annually and handle up to 14 ATR flights per day. Additionally, the government intends to lengthen the runway to allow larger aircraft, such as Airbus A320s, to operate at the airport. Future plans call for Daman to be connected to places like Patna, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Mumbai.
The region’s economy is anticipated to benefit greatly from the new air link. Over 7,000 industries are located in Daman, Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli collectively, while over 15,000 more are located in nearby Vapi and Valsad. It is anticipated that increased connection will encourage corporate growth, draw in capital, and provide new job opportunities.
Additionally, the airport is expected to boost Daman’s tourism industry, which brings in almost 20 lakh tourists a year. The region’s beaches, history, and cultural attractions might be further promoted with improved air connection. Additionally, by facilitating quicker delivery of commodities to markets across the nation, the new airport is anticipated to help the food processing, fisheries, marine products, and pharmaceutical industries.
The launch is a component of the government’s larger initiatives under the UDAN program to improve regional aviation. India’s regional air connectivity network would be further expanded with the allocation of ₹29,000 crore over the next ten years to build 200 new helipads and 100 new airports under the Modified UDAN Scheme.
