Noida International Airport hits major milestone with Airbus A320 test flight

Noida International marked a crucial milestone recently when an Airbus A320 landed here from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. If reports are to go by, flight operations are scheduled to start from April 2025 from Noida Airport, which would transform connectivity for Greater Noida and beyond.


Once operational, it will be the second major airport in the National Capital Region (NCR), after IGI Airport.
Developed along the Yamuna Expressway, the airport spans 1,334 hectares and is being constructed in four phases at an estimated cost of INR 29,650 crore. With an INR 10,056 crore investment, the first phase will have a single runway and a terminal that can accommodate 12 million people a year. The airport is expected to handle 70 million passengers annually once it is fully constructed.

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The airport’s concessionaire, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited—a subsidiary of Zurich International Airport AG—has undertaken this ambitious project under a public-private partnership model with the Uttar Pradesh government.

The validation flight conducted by IndiGo Airlines tested critical infrastructure, including navigational aids and air traffic control systems. Such tests are necessary for obtaining aerodrome certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Christoph Schnellmann, CEO of Noida International Airport, described this achievement as “a proud moment,” emphasising the team’s meticulous planning and dedication to meeting the project’s timeline.

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To highlight the importance of the airport, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said, "Noida International Airport is a prestigious project catering to Delhi NCR and Western Uttar Pradesh." It's expected that the opening of this airport will boost the economy of Uttar Pradesh as well as nearby states like Rajasthan and Haryana. Naidu commended the farmers, labourers, and officials who worked hard, and he credited the state and federal governments for working together to build the airport on schedule.

The validation flight follows successful calibration of Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) and Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI) by the Airports Authority of India, ensuring operational readiness. Officials reaffirmed that the airport’s inaugural phase remains on track for its April 2025 launch.

With Uttar Pradesh already boasting the highest number of operational airports in India—17 by next April—the Noida International Airport indicates the region’s burgeoning aviation sector. It also reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for enhanced connectivity, with the foundation stone laid in November 2021.

This modern infrastructure promises to bolster regional growth and global connectivity, heralding a new chapter for civil aviation in India.