Noida: Noida International Airport Ltd (NIAL), located in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, recently completed its first flight validation test on December 9, 2024. The successful test flight marks a significant milestone in the development of India's upcoming largest airport, which is scheduled to begin commercial operations on April 17, 2025. This achievement comes after the foundation stone for the airport was laid by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 25, 2021.
The test flight, operated by IndiGo, departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi and landed at the newly constructed Noida International Airport, marking the final stage of security and operational checks. The flight was conducted without passengers and was a critical exercise in ensuring the airport's readiness for commercial air traffic. The 3.9-kilometer runway was tested under the supervision of key aviation bodies, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), NIAL officials, and the Uttar Pradesh Civil Aviation Department. The test flight evaluated vital systems such as airspace coordination, emergency response protocols, communication between pilots and air traffic controllers, and runway performance.
The flight testing phase is expected to be completed by December 15, 2024, after which NIAL will apply for an aerodrome license from the DGCA, a critical requirement for commencing commercial operations. According to Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, the completion of this flight validation is a key step towards the full operational readiness of the airport, which is projected to be ready by April 2025.
The airport, situated 72 kilometers from Delhi's IGIA, is being developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. It will be owned by NIAL and operated by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a subsidiary of Zurich Airport AG. The airport is designed to cater to the growing aviation demand in the National Capital Region (NCR) and beyond, especially in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, which currently has 15 operational civil airports.
The Noida International Airport is being built as India’s first "net-zero emissions" airport. The first phase of construction, estimated at Rs 10,050 crore, is expected to create capacity for handling around 12 million passengers annually. The airport will ultimately cover 7,200 acres, with six runways planned upon full completion. This expansion will make it not only India’s largest airport but one of the largest in the world, with six runways—comparable to global airports like Amsterdam, Detroit, and Denver. The Noida International Airport will eventually be able to handle between 60 and 120 million passengers annually over the next 30 years.
The development of the airport began in earnest in 2021 after years of planning and delays. The project was initially proposed in 2001 by the then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh, but it faced several roadblocks due to opposition from stakeholders, including IGIA’s operator, GMR Group. In 2018, the proposal was revived, and by 2021, the master plan for the airport was approved by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The project is expected to generate over one lakh jobs and contribute significantly to the region's economy.
The airport will serve as a major logistics hub with a multi-modal cargo terminal designed to streamline the movement of industrial goods and foster industrial growth in the region. The terminal will initially handle 2 million metric tons of cargo, with potential to expand to 8 million metric tons.
In addition to its passenger and cargo facilities, the airport will be well-connected to major roadways, including the Yamuna Expressway, Western Peripheral Expressway, and the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Future plans include connectivity via metro and high-speed rail, including a proposed driverless pod taxi system connecting the airport to a planned film city in Greater Noida.
The Noida International Airport will also be linked to the planned Ghaziabad–Jewar RRTS rapid rail line and the Palwal–Noida International Airport–Khurja Railway line, improving accessibility for travelers across the region. The airport will have additional rail connections through the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC) and the Delhi–Jaipur line, further enhancing its connectivity to major hubs.
The airport's design focuses on passenger convenience and environmental sustainability, with digital processes for smooth travel and a commitment to reducing the airport's carbon footprint. It aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a modern, future-ready aviation sector. Once operational, it will join a growing network of international airports in Uttar Pradesh, which already boasts airports in Lucknow, Varanasi, and Kushinagar, with another under development in Ayodhya.
The Noida International Airport is poised to revolutionize air travel and logistics in northern India, supporting the region's growth while boosting tourism and commerce, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, which is set to become an export hub with this new infrastructure.