In a significant boost for regional connectivity, air travel between Mumbai and Nanded is set to recommence this week after a prolonged hiatus of over five years. The vital route, which was originally shut down in February 2020, will see operations restart from Thursday, December 25, 2025.
Flight Schedule and Airline Details
Private carrier Star Air will be the airline operating on this revived sector. Officials confirmed that the service will run three times per week, specifically on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The airline has released the specific flight timings for the new connection.
The flight from Mumbai, S5-257, is scheduled to depart at 16:55 hours from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) and will arrive at Nanded's Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Airport (NDC). The return flight, S5-256, will take off from Nanded at 18:40 hours bound for Mumbai.
Background of the Nanded Airport and Route Closure
The revival marks a crucial second chapter for the Nanded airport, which is a domestic facility managed by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) Limited. The airport's operations had faced a major hurdle earlier this year when the national civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), ordered its shutdown. The closure was prompted by the discovery of serious safety lapses during regulatory inspections.
Prior to the 2020 suspension, Nanded was connected not only to Mumbai but also to Pune. The Pune-Nanded service, which operated five times weekly, reportedly witnessed robust traffic, moving close to 5,000 passengers each week. The cessation of these flights left a significant gap in the region's transport infrastructure.
Strategic and Cultural Significance of the Route
Officials express strong optimism about the Mumbai-Nanded route's potential, citing high existing demand and expecting it to regain popularity swiftly. Nanded holds a strategic position as a major agrarian and commercial hub in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra.
Beyond its economic role, the city is globally renowned for its profound Sikh heritage, being the site of the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, one of the five temporal seats of authority in Sikhism. This religious significance drives considerable pilgrim traffic throughout the year, for which direct air connectivity from a metro like Mumbai is a major convenience.
The resumption of flights is therefore seen as a critical development for both business travelers and pilgrims, promising to enhance economic activity and accessibility to this important city. It represents a positive step in strengthening intra-state air networks and supporting regional development.
