Low Interest in Jewar
As Noida International Airport prepares for its commercial debut on June 15th, with initial routes to Lucknow, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jammu announced
by IndiGo, a recent survey indicates a significant hesitancy among Delhi-NCR residents to embrace this new travel hub. A comprehensive survey conducted by LocalCircles, engaging over 19,000 individuals from Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad, found that a mere 5% of travelers intend to utilize the Jewar airport in the upcoming year. The vast majority, 95%, expressed a continued preference for Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Their reasoning largely hinges on practicality, citing IGI as more accessible and cost-effective, thus overshadowing the novelty of the new facility. Even among those considering Jewar, the primary motivation appears to be curiosity rather than a conviction of its superiority as a travel option.
IGI's Practical Advantages
The primary draw for most travelers in the National Capital Region (NCR) remains the inherent convenience and established familiarity of Delhi's IGI Airport. Survey respondents overwhelmingly highlighted IGI's superior accessibility from their residences, workplaces, and key business areas, a crucial factor for frequent flyers. A significant 58% of participants pointed to a combination of lower airfares and closer proximity as their main reasons for sticking with IGI. Furthermore, an additional 32% stated that sheer convenience alone was a sufficient deterrent to consider shifting their travel plans to Jewar. This indicates that for a substantial portion of the NCR population, the ease of reaching and navigating IGI outweighs the potential benefits of a newer airport, especially when factoring in the already established flight networks and travel routines.
Airport Fees and Fares
A major deterrent for potential travelers to Jewar Airport is the anticipated increase in flight costs. Airlines have voiced concerns that operating from Noida could lead to substantially higher ticket prices compared to flights departing from IGI. Projections suggest that increased landing charges and other airport fees at Jewar could inflate ticket prices by an estimated 20-25% on similar routes originating from Delhi. This price hike, coupled with the already longer travel distance to Jewar for many NCR residents, presents a significant financial barrier. A particularly contentious point is the proposed User Development Fee (UDF) of Rs 653 for each domestic passenger at Noida airport. Airlines reportedly argue this fee is more than four times higher than comparable charges at Delhi Airport, raising fears that these costs will inevitably be passed on to consumers, making Jewar a less attractive option financially.
Connectivity and Travel Time
Beyond the financial aspects, concerns about flight schedules and overall journey duration are also influencing travelers' decisions. During its initial operational phase, Jewar Airport is expected to offer a more limited selection of non-stop flights on certain routes. This lack of direct connectivity could translate into longer overall travel times and potentially higher fares when compared to the extensive domestic network already established at IGI Airport. For many, the total time spent on the journey, not just the airfare, is a critical consideration. The absence of immediate Metro or rapid rail access to Jewar is also a significant worry, with travelers from parts of Delhi, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad anticipating lengthy road journeys. This extended travel time, particularly during peak traffic hours, could negate the perceived convenience of flying, making IGI a more practical choice for many.
