Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu inaugurates Daman’s first commercial flight, strengthening tourism, business travel, seafood exports and regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme.

Key Highlights

• Alliance Air launches the first direct Delhi–Daman–Delhi flight from the newly operational NAMO Airport, Daman.
• Flight inaugurated by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu.
• NAMO Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2026.
• Airport developed at a cost of ₹124 crore, with an annual passenger handling capacity of 3.67 lakh.
• Direct flight reduces travel time between Delhi and Daman to around 2.5 hours.
• Improved connectivity expected to boost tourism, business travel, fisheries, food processing and industrial growth.
• Government plans future runway expansion to accommodate larger aircraft and connect more cities.

Alliance Air Connects Daman with Delhi; NAMO Airport Opens New Growth Avenue for Tourism and Industr

New Delhi, July 17: Daman has entered India’s commercial aviation network with the launch of its first-ever direct flight to Delhi, as Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu flagged off Alliance Air’s inaugural service from the newly operational NAMO Airport.

The inaugural flight marks a major milestone for the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, significantly improving accessibility to one of India’s emerging coastal tourism and industrial destinations.

Major Connectivity Boost Under UDAN

The Minister said the direct service will reduce travel time between Delhi and Daman from nearly 8–10 hours by road and rail to approximately 2.5 hours by air, making the destination more accessible for tourists, business travellers and investors.

The launch has been made possible under the Government’s UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) regional connectivity initiative, which continues to expand India’s aviation network by connecting smaller cities and underserved regions.

NAMO Airport Strengthens Regional Aviation

NAMO Airport is a dual-purpose airport operating from the Indian Coast Guard Air Station (ICGAS), Daman. Developed by the Union Territory Administration at a cost of ₹124 crore, the airport features a modern 3,700-square-metre terminal capable of handling 14 ATR aircraft movements daily and an annual passenger capacity of 3.67 lakh.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation reimbursed ₹88 crore towards the project’s development.

Tourism and Industrial Growth Expected

Highlighting Daman’s tourism potential, the Civil Aviation Minister noted that the coastal destination already attracts around 20 lakh visitors annually, with tourist arrivals expected to rise substantially following the launch of direct flights.

He also announced plans to extend the runway in the future, enabling operations by larger aircraft such as the Airbus A320, while expanding connectivity to major cities including Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad and Patna.

The Minister pointed out that the region houses more than 7,000 industries across Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, along with over 15,000 industries in neighbouring Vapi and Valsad, making improved air connectivity crucial for business growth and investment.

Support for Fisheries and Food Processing

Beyond tourism, the new air link is expected to benefit Daman’s blue economy by enabling faster transportation of marine products, fisheries produce and food processing goods to markets across India.

The Minister said enhanced air connectivity would help local fishermen, seafood exporters, marine farmers and the region’s pharmaceutical industry access larger domestic markets while reducing transit time.

Future Aviation Expansion

The inauguration comes as the Government extends the UDAN Scheme for another 10 years, with an allocation of ₹29,000 crore to develop 100 new airports and 200 new helipads across India, further strengthening regional connectivity.

Officials also highlighted the successful growth of Diu Airport, whose annual passenger traffic has increased from around 19,000 passengers in 2013 to over one lakh today, with plans already underway for a new terminal and longer runway.

Impact on Hospitality, Travel and Tourism

The launch of Daman’s first direct flight is expected to be a significant boost for the hospitality and tourism sector. Easier access from Delhi is likely to increase weekend leisure travel, corporate visits, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism and short holiday traffic to Daman’s beaches, heritage attractions and waterfront resorts.

Hotels, resorts, restaurants, travel agencies, tour operators and local transport providers are expected to benefit from higher tourist arrivals and improved connectivity. The direct flight will also encourage investment in hospitality infrastructure, including premium hotels, convention facilities and tourism services.

For the food and beverage sector, quicker air connectivity will support the movement of seafood, marine products and processed foods to major markets, strengthening Daman’s position as an emerging destination for coastal tourism, culinary experiences and seafood exports. The new connectivity reinforces the government’s broader vision of integrating regional destinations into India’s expanding aviation and tourism ecosystem while creating new employment and business opportunities.