Noida International Airport To Be Inaugurated On October 30, Says Naidu
Jewar airport to open in October; flight operations expected within 45 days.
The Noida International Airport in Jewar, western Uttar Pradesh, is slated for inauguration on October 30, 2025, with commercial flight operations commencing within 45 days, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu announced on Wednesday. Located about 75 km southeast of Delhi in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, the greenfield project will become the National Capital Region's (NCR) second international gateway after the Indira Gandhi International Airport, alleviating congestion at Delhi's primary hub, which handled over 73 million passengers in 2024.
Naidu, speaking to reporters during an event at Ghaziabad's Hindon airport, emphasized efforts to accelerate the timeline despite previous delays. "We are trying to push up the inauguration so that we can see it happen very soon," he said, noting the date aligns with ongoing validations, including a successful test flight in December 2024.
The airport's first phase, developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model by Zurich Airport International's subsidiary with an initial investment exceeding Rs 10,000 crore, features a single runway and a modern terminal designed to accommodate up to 12 million passengers annually. Future expansions aim to scale capacity to 70 million by 2040, positioning it as one of Asia's largest aviation hubs.
Airlines have expressed keen interest, with Naidu revealing discussions for connecting at least 10 domestic cities in the initial phase, including potential international routes via carriers like IndiGo. This enthusiasm stems from the region's untapped potential, driven by industrial growth in the Yamuna Expressway corridor and proximity to key economic zones.
However, Naidu highlighted the airport's strategic emphasis on cargo operations over passenger traffic, leveraging Uttar Pradesh's logistics needs and aiming to handle millions of tonnes annually, which could transform the state's export landscape.
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The Jewar project, first conceptualized in 2001 as the Taj International Aviation Hub, faced multiple hurdles, including land acquisition disputes and environmental clearances, pushing back its original 2020 target. Revived in 2014 under the Yogi Adityanath government, it represents a cornerstone of India's aviation expansion, with the Airports Authority of India estimating 200 new airports by 2025 to support a projected 300 million air passengers.
Enhanced connectivity via metro lines, rapid rail, and electric taxis will further integrate the facility, promising economic ripple effects for Noida, Greater Noida, and surrounding areas.
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