Noida International Airport Set for October 30 Inauguration
The long-awaited Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewar is officially set for inauguration on October 30, 2025. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu confirmed the date, stating that flight operations are expected to begin within 45 days of the launch. Located in the Gautam Buddh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, approximately 75 kilometers from Delhi, this new facility will be the second international airport in the National Capital Region (NCR) after Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI). This strategic development aims to alleviate the immense pressure on IGI and provide a new gateway for travelers and goods.
A Strategic Hub with a Focus on Cargo
While passenger flights will be a key part of its operations, Minister Naidu highlighted the airport’s significance as a strategic hub for cargo operations. This focus on freight will position Noida International Airport as a major logistics hub for North India, attracting foreign investment and boosting economic growth in the region. The airport has already signed a partnership with Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited (AISATS) and Afcom Holdings Limited for freighter operations, which will transform it into a central link within global supply chains, handling everything from electronics and perishables to temperature-sensitive goods.
Phase-wise Development and Future Expansion
The airport is being developed as a public-private partnership (PPP) by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Swiss company Zurich Airport International AG. The project is being constructed in four phases. The first phase, spanning 1,300 hectares, will feature a single runway and one terminal, designed to handle an annual passenger capacity of 12 million. According to airport officials, work is nearing completion, with the facility preparing to handle low-visibility conditions from day one, equipped with CAT-III infrastructure. This crucial feature will allow for safe aircraft operations even during dense fog, a common occurrence in North India’s winter. Future plans are ambitious, with the full build-out spanning approximately 5,000 hectares, including at least two runways and the capacity to serve 70 million passengers annually.
Enhancing Connectivity and Economic Growth in Uttar Pradesh
The inauguration of the Noida International Airport is a major milestone for Uttar Pradesh. The state’s Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, confirmed the opening, emphasising the significant infrastructure development that has taken place in the state since 2017. He highlighted the expansion of expressways and the number of operational airports, which have grown from just four to 16 today. The new airport is expected to be a major catalyst for economic activity, not only for Noida and Greater Noida but for the entire Western Uttar Pradesh region. Initial discussions with airlines indicate that at least 10 cities will be connected in the first phase, with major cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata among the first to be linked, further solidifying the airport’s role in India’s aviation network.
