Noida Airport Prepares For Commercial Flight Trials, Eyes April 2025 Launch

Noida International Airport is set to commence commercial flight operations for both domestic and international routes starting 17 April 2025.

This announcement came after a high-level meeting chaired by Noida International Airport Ltd (NIAL) on Tuesday (1 October), during which Yamuna International Airport Ltd (YIAPL) presented a detailed timeline outlining key approvals required for the airport’s launch.

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 concessionaire has submitted a plan to start commercial operations by 17 April. However, we will try to bring the launch date forward," said NIAL CEO Arun Vir Singh.

He emphasised the importance of meeting the deadline to avoid potential delays in securing international approvals and time slots from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which could be pushed back by six months.

The upcoming airport, the second major facility in the Delhi-NCR region, was initially slated to commence operations by the end of September this year, with an expected 65 daily flights — 62 domestic, two international, and one cargo flight.

Singh indicated that this flight schedule is likely to remain unchanged for next year's launch. He also noted that discussions have begun with IATA for international slots and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for domestic routes.

"Airlines have already submitted applications for international destinations," Singh explained, "but the approval of routes will depend on bilateral licensing agreements between the countries and airlines. The domestic allocation meeting with DGCA is set for the middle of this month, which will determine the slots." Singh further assured that at least one international flight will take off on the airport's launch day.

As for the airport's progress, Singh highlighted that flight trials are scheduled for 30 November, including tests conducted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

"Code C aircraft will participate in the trials to meet approval requirements, with partner airlines like IndiGo and Akasa Air conducting full-crew flight tests to evaluate runway readiness and validate operational systems," he added, reports Money Control.

The meeting was prompted by a recent letter from the Ministry of Civil Aviation urging the finalisation of flight schedules and the necessary trials before launch. Officials mentioned that the DGCA had already inspected various systems, while the Instrument Landing System (ILS) is set to be tested from 4-6 October.

Additionally, a comprehensive runway report will be submitted to the DGCA by 10 October, with flight procedure documentation due by 15 November. Flight trial approvals are expected from DGCA by 25 November.

YIAPL is expected to apply for an aerodrome license in December, which will likely be issued by mid-March. Other essential airport details, such as codes and booking information, are planned to be made available on the IATA website by 6 February.

"Ticket bookings for international flights will open 90 days in advance, while domestic bookings will be available up to 60 days prior. You can expect slots to open around January or February," Singh stated.

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.