Noida International Airport to Open on April 17, 2025, as Major Milestone in Development is Reached
The countdown to the grand opening of the Noida International Airport has officially begun, with officials confirming that the airport will launch on April 17, 2025. This milestone marks a significant achievement for the ambitious project, which aims to serve as a crucial alternative to the busy Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. Situated in Jewar along the Yamuna Expressway, the Noida International Airport is expected to handle around 12 million passengers annually in its first phase.
As the launch date draws near, the airport’s development is rapidly progressing. Over 80% of the work on the terminal building has been completed, with officials reporting that the flooring is finished, and vital infrastructure such as escalators and baggage handling systems have already been installed. Shailendra Bhatia, the nodal officer for Noida International Airport Ltd (NIAL), the body overseeing the airport’s construction, confirmed that the roof construction is underway, and finishing works on the terminal are progressing smoothly.
“The terminal building has achieved significant progress, with finishing works moving ahead at full speed. Once the terminal is fully completed, we will begin the installation of the 10 aerobridges,” said Bhatia. This is a crucial step as aerobridges are needed to provide seamless passenger boarding and deboarding. The first phase of the airport’s development, with an estimated cost of Rs 10,056 crore, has already utilised 90% of its funds, with Rs 9,024 crore spent so far. This includes substantial investments from both the Uttar Pradesh government, which allocated Rs 4,326 crore for acquiring 1,334 hectares of land, and Rs 5,730 crore from Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, the concessionaire managing the project. With the majority of the necessary funding secured, the airport is on track for its operational debut in just a few months.
One of the key milestones reached recently was the successful validation test flight, which involved an Airbus A320 touching down and taking off from the runway. This test flight, which included officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Airport Authority of India (AAI), was crucial in assessing the airport’s flight readiness. With the aerodrome licence expected to be granted by March 2025, the airport is now poised for commercial operations to begin on April 17, as scheduled. Officials are optimistic about the impact the airport will have on the region, noting its strategic location along the Yamuna Expressway, which will provide vital connectivity for both domestic and international flights. Additionally, a newly constructed 750-metre eight-lane elevated road, complete with four cloverleaf interchanges, will directly link the airport to the Yamuna Expressway, facilitating smoother travel. This road is part of a broader 31-km road that will eventually connect the airport with the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway at Ballabgarh in Haryana.
As the airport enters its first phase of operations, plans for future growth are already underway. Work on the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hub and a second runway for the airport’s second phase is progressing. Tender documents for these developments are currently being prepared and will soon be sent to the government for approval. The successful completion of these projects will ensure that the airport continues to scale in capacity, ultimately meeting the growing demand for air travel in the region. With its strategic location and state-of-the-art facilities, Noida International Airport is poised to become a critical hub for air travel in North India. The airport’s development promises to not only alleviate the pressure on Delhi’s existing airport but also boost economic growth and create new job opportunities in the region. As the final touches are put on the terminal building and the aerodrome licence is granted, all eyes will be on the April 17 launch, marking a new era in the region’s aviation sector.
