Noida Airport Gears Up For April 2025 Launch: Instrument Landing System Calibrated, Runway Trials Next

The Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) has completed the calibration of two critical systems necessary for aircraft operations: the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI).

These systems are essential for ensuring safe aircraft landing and take-off as the airport gears up for its operational launch on 17 April 2025.

The greenfield airport at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh, is being developed to enhance domestic, as well as international connectivity to and from Delhi-National Capital Region, Noida and western Uttar Pradesh.

The airport — billed to be India's largest upon completion — is being developed by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a fully-owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, in partnership with the state government.

The calibration process, which began on October 10 and concluded on 14 October, was conducted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) using a Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft. Officials confirmed that with this milestone achieved, the runway and its accompanying equipment are now ready for commercial operations.

"The successful calibration of these systems is crucial for ensuring that the runway is prepared for safe operations," said Arun Vir Singh, CEO of NIAL. "The ILS, in particular, plays a vital role in guiding aircraft during landing, especially in low visibility conditions. The system includes a localiser that aligns aircraft with the runway and a glide path antenna that helps pilots maintain a safe descent."

Singh also emphasised the importance of the PAPI system, which consists of lights along the runway that visually guide pilots to the correct descent angle during the final approach.

Singh confirmed that daily take-offs and landings have been conducted since October 10 to ensure all safety systems are functioning properly. "We are working closely with the AAI, YIAPL, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and both the state and central governments to ensure operations begin as scheduled," he said, reports Times Of India.

Meanwhile, YIAPL is in discussions with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to finalise international routes, and consultations are ongoing with DGCA regarding domestic routes. NIAL has instructed the concessionaire to ensure that both domestic and international flights are ready to take off by the 17 April deadline.

As part of the preparations, commercial flight trials and evaluations by the AAI are slated for November 30. Partner airlines, including IndiGo and Akasa, are expected to conduct full-crew flight tests to assess runway readiness and validate operational systems ahead of the official launch.

Estimated to cost Rs 5,700 crore, the first phase of the airport, spanning 1,334 hectares, will initially feature one runway and terminal, capable of handling 12 million passengers annually.

Looking ahead, subsequent phases are anticipated to expand the airport's capacity to accommodate 70 million passengers across two runways and terminals, with the entire project estimated to cost Rs 29,561 crore.

The first expansion of the airport — construction of the second runway and the terminal building — will start once it reaches 80 per cent of the 12 million passengers per year capacity.

Similarly, the development of the third, fourth and fifth runways will begin when footfall increases from 12 million to 30 million, 50 million, and 70 million, respectively.