Noida | After prolonged delays and multiple administrative hurdles, the Noida International Airport is now close to becoming operational, with flight services expected to begin from June 15. According to airport authorities, various airline companies have submitted proposals to operate a total of 70 flights from the airport. While the destination of the first flight has not yet been finalised, initial operations are likely to begin with routes to Bengaluru and Varanasi.
FCRF Academy Launches Premier Anti-Money Laundering Certification Program
Sources indicate that airlines, including IndiGo, are planning to launch flights to major cities such as Mumbai, Patna, Lucknow and Ayodhya. This signals a strong push to develop the airport into a major domestic aviation hub right from the initial phase of operations.
The airport is being developed and will be operated by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), which has been granted the concessionaire license for a period of 40 years, until October 1, 2061. The company has invested approximately ₹8,000 crore in the construction of the airport, while the state government has spent around ₹18,000 crore on land acquisition.
However, delays in the commencement of flight operations have resulted in significant financial losses for the developer. Officials stated that the company was incurring a loss of nearly ₹2 crore per day due to the delay. With operations now set to begin, this is expected to bring much-needed relief.
The primary reason behind the delay was related to pending security clearances. Airports in India require approval from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) before starting operations, which was not granted on time in this case. A key obstacle was the foreign citizenship of the then CEO of YIAPL. As per regulations of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the head of an airport operating company must be an Indian citizen.
To resolve this issue, the company made a leadership change on April 24 by appointing its Chief Financial Officer as the new CEO. Following this change, all pending security compliance requirements were fulfilled, and BCAS subsequently approved the airport’s security plan. This clearance has now cleared the way for flight operations to begin from June 15.
The delay in operations has also drawn comparisons with the Navi Mumbai International Airport, where similar procedural and security-related issues had postponed the launch of commercial flights. In both cases, regulatory approvals and system readiness played a crucial role in determining timelines.
From a technical and operational perspective, Noida International Airport will initially begin operations with a single runway. It is designed to handle around 12 million passengers annually in its first phase and will have the capacity to park up to 25 aircraft at a time. Upon completion of all three phases, the airport’s total passenger handling capacity is expected to rise to 70 million annually, placing it among the largest airports in India.
It is noteworthy that the airport was inaugurated on March 28, with claims that operations would begin within 45 days. However, due to procedural delays, the first flight is now expected nearly 79 days after inauguration.
Aviation experts believe that the new airport will significantly reduce congestion in the Delhi-NCR region while boosting connectivity across northern India. It is also expected to drive economic growth, promote tourism, and create employment opportunities in the region.
At present, preparations are in the final stage, and airline companies are working on finalising their schedules. With operations set to begin from June 15, Noida International Airport is ready to mark a new chapter in India’s aviation sector and emerge as a key connectivity hub in the coming years.
