New Delhi:
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu inaugurated the airport’s commercial services, describing the project as a transformative development that will strengthen connectivity and support the region’s growing aviation needs. The airport is expected to emerge as a major aviation hub for northern India and serve as an important complement to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The first scheduled commercial flight, IndiGo flight 6E-2278, landed at Noida International Airport from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow before continuing to Bengaluru. The occasion carried special significance as 172 farmers from the Jewar region, including 20 women, who voluntarily contributed their ancestral land for the airport project, were among the inaugural passengers on a special flight to Lucknow.
The farmers are scheduled to meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow in recognition of their contribution to one of India’s largest greenfield airport projects and to express gratitude for the development initiatives undertaken in the region.
Speaking to The Daily Guardian, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu termed the launch of commercial operations an emotional and historic moment.
“It feels wonderful to finally witness operations begin at Noida International Airport. This is a dream turning into reality not only for me but also for the people of Uttar Pradesh and especially those of Jewar. I would like to personally thank the farmers who contributed their land and made this project possible,” Naidu said.
The minister revealed that it was Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s idea that the first commercial flight from the airport should carry the farmers whose land helped bring the project to life.
Addressing the event, Naidu said, “We have officially begun commercial operations, and it is fitting that the first passengers are the farmers who gave their land for the airport. They will travel to Lucknow and meet the Chief Minister. This airport will cater to a large number of passengers and significantly reduce the operational burden on Delhi’s IGI Airport.”
He further announced that IndiGo had launched four routes from the airport on its opening day, connecting Jewar with Lucknow, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Amritsar.
“With the commencement of operations at Jewar, the NCR region now has three operational airports. This facility will play a crucial role in enhancing connectivity and driving economic growth across the region,” he added.
The minister also spoke about the government’s long-term vision for the aviation sector, including plans to develop an indigenous passenger aircraft.
“Soon, Indians will be able to travel in a domestically manufactured civil aircraft. It is a dream we are actively working towards, and we are confident it will become a reality in the near future,” Naidu said.
Highlighting the Centre’s focus on regional connectivity, he noted that the UDAN scheme has been extended for another decade with a budgetary allocation of Rs 29,000 crore.
“Nearly 90 airports have already been developed under the UDAN initiative. Over the next phase, another 100 airports will be added, creating new opportunities for connectivity, tourism and economic development,” he said.
Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh, who led the farmers’ delegation, described the day as the culmination of years of effort and engagement with local communities.
“The inaugural flight is carrying 172 farmers who gave their land for the airport project. They are among the first passengers and will meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow to thank him for the developmental initiatives that have transformed the region,” Singh told The Daily Guardian.
Calling the occasion a dream realised, Singh said he had spent years working closely with farmers to explain the long-term benefits of the project and secure their support.
“This is an emotional and historic day. I worked tirelessly at the grassroots level, interacting directly with farmers and convincing them about the importance of the airport. Their trust and sacrifice made this project possible, which is why they have been given the honour of boarding the first commercial flight from the airport,” he said.
Developed as the second international airport serving the Delhi-NCR region, Noida International Airport is expected to complement operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport while meeting the increasing demand for air travel across northern India.
Phase I of the project has been developed at an investment of approximately Rs 11,200 crore under a public-private partnership model, making it one of the country’s largest greenfield airport developments.
According to officials, the airport features a 3,900-metre runway capable of handling wide-body aircraft and is equipped with advanced navigation infrastructure, including an Instrument Landing System and modern airfield lighting, enabling all-weather and round-the-clock operations.
The airport is expected to significantly strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s aviation network by improving connectivity between the state’s administrative, industrial and commercial centres.
Officials at the airport described the launch as an important step towards enhancing intra-state air connectivity and expressed hope that additional airlines would soon introduce similar services.
Extensive security arrangements have also been put in place as operations begin. A multi-layered security architecture featuring AI-enabled surveillance systems has been established, with nearly 1,030 personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force deployed at the airport.
The Uttar Pradesh Police has established a dedicated airport police station and deployed a team comprising one inspector, one senior sub-inspector, 20 head constables, 33 constables and five women constables.
Airport premises and runway operations are being monitored in real time through high-resolution CCTV cameras equipped with facial recognition technology, behavioural analytics and automated suspicious activity detection systems. Officials said dog squads, dedicated firefighting units, medical emergency response teams and quick reaction teams have also been stationed at the airport to ensure operational readiness and passenger safety.
With commercial operations now underway, Noida International Airport is poised to emerge as a major aviation gateway for northern India, boosting regional connectivity, generating employment opportunities, driving economic growth and easing congestion at existing airports across the NCR.