Dear Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi has inaugurated the New Goa Airport in Mopa in North Goa. The Prime Minister dedicated the airport to the nation in a grand ceremony organized by GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL), a wholly owned subsidiary of GMR Airports Limited (GAL). GGIAL is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) established to design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) the New Goa Airport. Built on 2,132 acres, the New Goa Airport is located in Pernem Taluka in North Goa. It is a state-of-the-art 24x7x365 international airport serving all segments of inbound and outbound tourism. Initially, Phase I of the airport will cater for approximately 4.4 million passengers per annum (MPPA), with a saturation capacity of 33 MPPA.

Goa's new airport will be a zero carbon footprint airport and will join a very elite club of green airports around the world.

Speaking on the occasion, I. Prabhakara Rao, Group Dy. Managing Director, GMR Group, said: “The airport terminal is a modern building that promotes environmental sustainability by using renewable energy, recycled resources and the latest technology. The airport, which reflects the true values ​​of the GMR Group, is designed keeping in mind the nature, culture and spirit of Goa. It will be a true destination airport."

R. V. Sheshan, CEO of GGIAL, said: “At GGIAL, we will work to make the New Goa International Airport a preferred airport for airlines, passengers and other stakeholders by unlocking the true potential of Goa. It will serve the needs of Goa's growing tourism industry while supplementing the state's GDP. We are confident that the New Goa International Airport will provide abundant employment and tourism opportunities and promote socio-economic development in Goa.”

The new Goa airport will provide passengers and visitors with an experience & feeling of Goa the moment they land. The airport will have a designated area for a curated flea market where local artisans and artisans will be encouraged to display and market their wares. Apart from this, the airport has used many of Goa's own Azulejos tiles. The use of bright shades of red, blue, green and yellow with white trim on the walls replicates the look and feel of old Goa. The food court recreates the charm of a typical Goan cafe, with the walls painted in bright colors and the counters made of tin-glazed blue and white Azulejos tiles. There is also a huge art installation at the airport made from recycled bottles, themed as 'marigold flower'.

The New Goa Airport has also established an Aviation Skill Development Centre, which provides skill & empowering the local Goan youth & make them employable in the aviation industry. There will likely be around 2000 people employed in the airport operations & it is expected that more than 5,000 people will benefit indirectly from the airport.