NOIDA- Uttar Pradesh’s upcoming airport, Noida International Airport (DXN) will commence commercial flights to domestic and international destinations on April 17, 2025. This decision emerged from a high-level meeting led by Noida International Airport Ltd (NIAL), the government’s project-specific entity.
Yamuna International Airport Ltd (YIAPL), a Zurich AG subsidiary, presented a detailed timeline for key clearances. NIAL CEO Arun Vir Singh stressed the criticality of meeting the April 17 deadline to avoid potential six-month delays in securing international approvals and IATA time slots.
Noida Airport Inaugural Flights
The airport, Delhi-NCR’s second major facility, was originally slated to open by September 2023. Initial plans included 65 daily flights: 62 domestic, two international, and one cargo.
Singh indicated that flight numbers would likely remain unchanged for the 2025 launch. Discussions with IATA for international slots and DGCA for domestic routes are underway. Airlines have submitted applications for international destinations, with route approvals contingent on bilateral licensing agreements.
A domestic allocation meeting with DGCA is scheduled for mid-October to determine slots. Singh assured that at least one international flight would depart on the launch day.
Regarding project progress, flight trials, including those by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), are set for November 30. Code C aircraft will participate in these trials to meet approval requirements.
Partner airlines IndiGo (6E) and Akasa Air (QP) will conduct full-crew flight tests to assess runway readiness and validate operational systems pre-launch.
Bookings to Start in Jan and Feb 2025
The ministry emphasized finalizing flight schedules and conducting necessary trials before the airport’s opening.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already inspected various calibrations. Instrument Landing System (ILS) tests are scheduled for October 4-6.
A comprehensive runway report will be submitted to DGCA by October 10, with additional flight procedure documentation due on November 15. DGCA is expected to approve flight trials by November 25.
Yamuna International Airport Ltd (YIAPL) plans to apply for an aerodrome license in December, with issuance anticipated by mid-March. Essential airport information, including codes and booking details, will be uploaded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) website by February 6.
NIAL CEO Arun Vir Singh announced that ticket bookings will open 90 days in advance for international flights and 60 days for domestic services, likely in January or February 2025. A flight schedule report has been submitted to the aviation ministry following Tuesday’s meeting.
Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government fined ₹21 crore ($2.5 million) to NIAL due to a delay in launching operations from September 2024 to April 2025.
The airport’s first phase, spanning 1,334 hectares in Jewar, will feature a single runway and terminal designed to handle 12 million passengers annually. Future expansion plans include four phases with multiple hubs. The completed fourth phase aims to handle 70 million passengers per year.
The central government has also set an ambitious goal of achieving 10 million tonnes of air cargo by 2030. Currently, 90 percent of India’s international cargo volumes are handled by non-Indian carriers.
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