Noida Airport Launch Delayed To April 2025 Amid Construction Hurdles

The launch of commercial operations at Noida International Airport, originally planned for year-end, has been postponed by at least four months to April 2025, the company developing the airport announced on Monday.

"In view of the current construction status, we expect to begin commercial operations by end of April 2025," Yamuna International Airport Private Ltd (YIAPL) said in a statement.

"This shift (in deadline) has taken place due to various reasons including delays in delivery of construction materials and equipment due to Covid-19 restrictions and supply chain constraints due to geopolitical conflict. We are working with all stakeholders to keep the pace of construction activities and preparations for operational readiness high," it said.

The greenfield airport at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh, is being developed to enhance domestic and international connectivity for the Delhi-National Capital region (NCR), Noida and western Uttar Pradesh. In its first phase, the airport will feature a single runway and handle 12 million passengers annually.

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

Zurich Airport International AG won the bid to develop Noida International Airport in 2019, with the concession period officially starting on 1 October 2021, and running for 40 years.

The engineering procurement and construction contract for the airport was awarded to Tata Projects in June 2022.

“Work on the runway, the passenger terminal and the control tower, is well advanced. Recently, the concessions for ground handling, the operation of commercial areas and important maintenance contracts were awarded. In addition, agreements have been signed with several airlines for flight connections from Noida International Airport,” YIAPL said.