Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal building of NAMO Airport at Daman on 5 June 2026, marking a milestone in the expansion of regional aviation under the UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The facility, developed by the Airports Authority of India and the administration of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, gives Daman its first scheduled commercial air connection in decades.
Initial operations are being run by Alliance Air with daily flights connecting Daman to Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, with onward links into the wider domestic network. The launch is expected to substantially reduce travel time for residents of southern Gujarat, the industrial belt around Vapi, and the Union Territory, while encouraging tourism flows to Daman, Diu and Silvassa beaches and heritage sites. The Prime Minister also dedicated and laid foundation stones for a wider development package worth around Rupees 2970 crore, covering road and water infrastructure, urban renewal, fisheries support and health and education projects.
NAMO Airport adds to the broader rollout of UDAN, which since its 2016 launch has operationalised more than 600 routes and connected over 90 underserved and unserved airports, heliports and water aerodromes across India. By integrating tier-two and tier-three locations with metros through viability gap funding for airlines and capped passenger fares, the scheme is positioned as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, employment generation and emergency medical and disaster response in coastal and remote regions.