NOIDA: A day after receiving security clearance from the home ministry, Noida International Airport on Friday received its aerodrome licence from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the final regulatory clearance before flight operations can begin.
Sources said the airport could now be formally inaugurated by the last week of March, with flight operations expected to start around the second week of April.
The aerodrome licence, issued under the Aircraft Rules, 1937, certifies that an airport meets the civil aviation regulator's requirements for safety, operational procedures, infrastructure, navigation systems and emergency response.
Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) CEO RK Singh told TOI the clearance means the airport is ready for takeoff and landing of flights. "We will seek time from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the airport," Singh said.
On Thursday, the airport received security clearance from Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). That clearance confirmed that its key security framework, including Bomb Threat Contingency Plan, Anti-Hijack Contingency Plan and Airport Security Programme, are in place for both passenger and cargo operations.
Calibration flights to test the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) at the airport were completed by Airports Authority of India (AAI) in Nov last year. These tests ensure navigation and communication systems meet international safety standards for upcoming operational readiness.
Officials at Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL), UP govt's special purpose vehicle overseeing the project, said the airport has achieved operational readiness. On the ground, construction and operational preparations are nearly complete. The passenger terminal's roofing, entry and exit points, internal systems and security infrastructure have been installed. The runway, air traffic control tower and other airside facilities are also ready.
While Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) took over airport security last year, residential facilities for personnel, including accommodation for staff, have been built within the airport complex by the concessionaire. Authorities said recruitment and training of operational staff have also been completed. The airport's cargo infrastructure is ready as well, and cargo operations are expected to begin alongside domestic passenger flights.
A 750-metre access road connecting the terminal area directly to the Yamuna Expressway has been completed. Key commercial and operational contracts, including ground handling, aviation fuel services, in-flight catering, retail outlets, food and beverage services, cargo operations and the airport hotel, have been awarded too. Communication and navigation systems have also been installed by Airports Authority of India.
Shailendra Bhatia, nodal officer at NIAL, said the airport could be formally inaugurated in the last week of March, potentially coinciding with Navratri. "This approval confirms that the airport's infrastructure, safety procedures and operational systems meet the standards set by the national aviation regulator," Bhatia said. "The first flights can begin within about 45 days, during which time all stakeholders — ground staff, technicians and airport personnel — will be deployed."
Three airlines — IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India Express — have already confirmed plans to operate flights from the airport. In its initial phase, routes are expected to connect Noida with major metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The exact number of flights has not yet been finalised.
Ticket bookings are expected to open 30 days before flights begin, which means it's likely this month.
Christoph Schnellmann, CEO of Noida International Airport, had earlier said operations would begin gradually. Initially, flights will run within a limited daytime schedule before expanding to night operations. International services are expected to begin later in the year. "We are committed to delivering a modern, efficient and passenger-centric airport that will serve as a catalyst for regional economic growth," Schnellmann had said.
The airport is being developed in four phases. In its first phase — with a single runway and terminal — it will be capable of handling around 12 million passengers annually. Once all four phases are completed, the airport is expected to accommodate up to 70 million passengers each year, positioning it among the largest aviation hubs in India.
Civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said the airport would significantly strengthen aviation connectivity for NCR and western UP. "The world-class airport will boost tourism, investment and regional economic growth," he said. "It will also help ease congestion at existing airports while offering passengers a modern and seamless travel experience."