The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has officially granted an aerodrome license to the Noida International Airport (NIA) at Jewar in Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, marking a major milestone in the development of one of India’s most anticipated greenfield airport projects.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the license has been awarded to Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG.
After the issue of the aerodrome licence, domestic passenger and cargo operations from the airport are expected to start within two months. However, commencement of international services will take time, which is expected to begin by September.
The airport is being developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model involving the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Government of India. The concession agreement for the project commenced on October 1, 2021, and spans a 40-year period.
The Noida International Airport has been licensed for public use and is approved for all-weather operations. The airport has a 3,900-metre-long runway, equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Aeronautical Ground Lighting (AGL) to support 24×7 operations.
It has Parking stands for 24 Code C aircraft and 2 Code D/F aircraft. Additionally, the airport has Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) facilities rated at Category 9, capable of handling large wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777-300ER.
The airport is being rolled out in four phases, along with a multi-modal cargo hub. In its first phase featuring one runway and one terminal the facility will handle approximately 12 million passengers per annum. After the completion of all 4 phases, the airport is designed to have 6 runways and 4 terminals. Once all phases are complete, its capacity is projected to reach up to 70 million passengers annually, positioning it as a major aviation hub serving the National Capital Region (NCR) and Western Uttar Pradesh.
Union Minister of Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu congratulated the Government of Uttar Pradesh on the achievement. He described the project as “a major step toward strengthening aviation connectivity for the National Capital Region and Western Uttar Pradesh.” The minister emphasised that the world-class airport would drive regional economic growth, boost tourism and investment, alleviate congestion at existing Delhi-area airports, and deliver a seamless passenger experience by blending “Swiss efficiency with Indian hospitality.”
