Flight operations at Noida International Airport to commence by end-2025

The Noida International Airport (NIA), that will be inaugurated on October 30 is expected to commence flight operations by end-2025, Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu recently announced and added that initially the airport will connect 10 routes and many international carriers are in talks to operate from the upcoming airport in Uttar Pradesh's Jewar.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath confirmed that commercial flight services from the airport are on track to begin by the end of the year. Originally, the airport was scheduled to open by September 2024, however it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once fully developed completely by 2050, the Noida International Airport is expected to become the largest in India. The first phase of construction, now nearing completion, includes a single runway and a passenger terminal designed to handle up to 12 million passengers annually. Importantly, the runway will be CAT III-compliant, allowing flight operations in low-visibility conditions such as dense fog, which affects north India during winter months.

Also read | Noida International Airport to open on October 30, flights to begin in next 45 days: Check details

Chief Executive Officer Christoph Schnellmann of Noida International Airport, the airport is making consistent progress toward readiness. "Phase 1 construction is progressing steadily, and the airport remains on schedule for commissioning this year. The validation flight was successfully completed in December 2024, confirming the readiness of our navigational aids, approach procedures, and ATC systems," he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Technical installations and finishing touches inside the terminal are ongoing, while the Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer programme is being implemented to ensure systems are in place ahead of launch.

The airport has already that Akasa Air will operate domestic and international routes from NIA. Negotiations are underway with various foreign airlines as well. "Airlines from the Middle East and Southeast Asia have shown strong interest in operating from NIA. Route planning and slot allocation discussions are underway, and further announcements will be made closer to the start of operations,” Schnellmann said.

Also read | Noida Airport Update: Passengers to pay up to ₹980 as user fee

NIA is being developed via public-private partnership, with Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International, serving as the concessionaire. Located near the Yamuna Expressway, it will be the second international airport in the National Capital Region after Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.