A major milestone in India’s aviation sector has been achieved as commercial flight operations have officially started from Noida International Airport in Jewar.
The airport is expected to become one of the country’s largest aviation hubs and a key gateway for passengers travelling across northern India.
The launch marks the beginning of a project that could eventually rank among the world’s largest airports in terms of passenger capacity.
First Flight Carries a Special Message
The airport’s first departure was more than just a commercial flight.
A special flight to Lucknow carried 172 farmers, including 20 women, whose land was acquired for the airport project.
The group, accompanied by Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh, is expected to meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and express their gratitude for the development initiative.
This symbolic journey highlighted the role local communities played in making the ambitious airport project possible.
IndiGo Starts Operations from Jewar Airport
IndiGo became the first airline to operate commercial services from Noida International Airport.
The airline’s inaugural flight departed from Lucknow at 7:05 AM and arrived at the new airport at 8:05 AM.
IndiGo has also announced plans to gradually expand its network from the airport to more than 16 destinations across India.
Some of the key destinations include:
Hyderabad
Bengaluru
Amritsar
Jammu
Srinagar
Jaipur
Chandigarh
Pantnagar
Lucknow
Navi Mumbai
Several of these routes have already started, while others will be introduced in phases over the coming weeks.
Akasa Air Joins From June 16
The airport’s connectivity will improve further with the entry of Akasa Air.
Starting June 16, the airline will operate daily direct flights connecting Noida International Airport with Bengaluru and Navi Mumbai.
These routes are expected to benefit both business and leisure travellers by providing faster access between major economic centres.
The addition of Akasa Air will also increase competition and provide passengers with more travel options.
First Phase Ready, Bigger Expansion Ahead
The first phase of Noida International Airport has now been completed.
At present, the airport has the capacity to handle around 12 million passengers annually.
The facility includes:
A modern terminal building
A runway
An air traffic control tower
Passenger and operational infrastructure
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted the airport its aerodrome licence on March 6, 2026, paving the way for commercial operations.
Planned to Become One of the World’s Largest Airports
The long-term vision for Noida International Airport is enormous.
Spread across nearly 1,334 hectares, the project is being developed in four phases.
Passenger handling capacity is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade:
30 million passengers annually by 2031
50 million by 2036
70 million by 2040
According to officials, the final master plan includes five runways and a capacity of up to 225 million passengers every year, which could place it among the largest airports in the world.
Huge Benefits for North India
The airport is expected to serve millions of travellers from:
Delhi-NCR
Western Uttar Pradesh
Haryana
Rajasthan
Uttarakhand
Apart from improving connectivity, the Uttar Pradesh government estimates that the project will create nearly one lakh direct and indirect jobs.
It is also expected to attract major investments in logistics, warehousing, hospitality, and industrial development.
With commercial flights now taking off from Jewar, Noida International Airport has begun its journey toward becoming one of India’s most important aviation and economic hubs.
