New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu confirmed that the newly inaugurated Noida International Airport (NIA) is expected to run commercial flight operations within the next 45 to 60 days on Saturday, March 28.
Naidu addressed the media after the inauguration ceremony of the airport, saying the preparation process had begun and the necessary arrangements, like security planning, are currently in progress.
“Flight operations from the airport would start in 45 to 60 days,” Naidu said. “Airline operators have already shown interest in commencing services from the airport, with IndiGo keen to begin flights once operations are cleared to start,” he added.
The security arrangements are among the final steps before commercial operations commence. The Noida International Airport is expected to boost the aviation infrastructure in the National Capital Region (NCR) and will ease the passenger surge in Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.
The airport is among the largest greenfield airports in India and will operate once the four phases are complete.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase on Saturday, March 28, where Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Aviation Minister Naidu were also present.
About Noida International Airport
The Noida International Airport is situated in Jewar, Gautam Budh Nagar district, and in the initial phase, around 1.2 crore passengers will be handled annually.
When fully operational, the airport can easily handle 7 crore passengers per year, making it a major aviation hub in India. The subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG will operate the Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd.
A total of 28 aircraft stands have been planned for the first phase. The 3,900-meter runway at the airport will handle both domestic and international flight operations. At peak operations, the airport handles up to 30 flight movements per hour.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted an aerodrome licence, enabling it to move closer to operational readiness.