Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, visited the nearly finished Noida International Airport in Jewar, labeling it as a pivotal moment in the state’s aviation history and a sign of its progress. He oversaw the domestic terminal, security protocols, traffic management, and the location for the upcoming launch event. In a high-level meeting with officials from various sectors, including Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL), Adityanath emphasized the importance of quality, timeliness, and coordination in the project to ensure a flawless inauguration.
The Noida International Airport spans 3,300 acres in its initial phase and is currently 95% complete, with plans for an inauguration by November 2025. The land acquisition cost totaled Rs 5,000 crore, while construction expenses have reached approximately Rs 7,000 crore. The first phase will feature one runway with an annual capacity for 12 million passengers and 150 daily flights. Future expansion aims to include five runways covering 11,750 acres, allowing the airport to handle up to 300 million passengers yearly, positioning Jewar among the world’s largest airports.
Addressing security and connectivity concerns, Yogi Adityanath emphasized the need for stringent security measures, efficient traffic management, and passenger comfort. He highlighted the importance of maintaining cleanliness and aesthetics around the airport, ensuring that all facilities are of top-notch quality. Adityanath also pushed for the timely completion of connectivity projects like metro extensions and the Ghaziabad–Jewar Rapid Rail Transit System, with an estimated cost of Rs 16,000 crore and a target completion year of 2031.
Strategically located along the Yamuna Expressway, just 75 km from Delhi, the Jewar airport is set to serve the National Capital Region, Haryana, Rajasthan, and western Uttar Pradesh. Adityanath envisions Jewar as a pivotal hub of connectivity, logistics, and prosperity for the state, linking Uttar Pradesh to the global stage.
IndiGo is set to be the inaugural carrier at the airport, while Akasa Air plans to operate both domestic and international flights. Negotiations are in progress with various Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian airlines to introduce additional routes. The airport’s design includes provisions for cargo handling and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services, aiming to enhance e-commerce, manufacturing, and cold-chain logistics in northern India. Currently, around 9,000 individuals are employed at the site, with expectations of creating up to one lakh direct and indirect jobs upon operational commencement.
Uttar Pradesh’s aviation sector has witnessed remarkable growth over the past decade, transitioning from a few operational airports in 2017 to 24 airports as of now, with Jewar on the verge of launch. With the inauguration of Jewar, Uttar Pradesh will become the only Indian state boasting five international airports, alongside Lucknow, Varanasi, Kushinagar, and Ayodhya. The state’s airports have experienced a surge in passenger traffic, with significant contributions to tourism and economic development.
The article concludes by emphasizing the economic benefits of enhanced air connectivity, particularly the growth of the air cargo sector in cities like Varanasi and Lucknow. Improved connectivity has spurred industrial and real estate development in the NCR–UP region, leading to an increase in property values. Uttar Pradesh’s aviation sector now plays a more substantial role in the state’s GDP, reflecting the positive impact of aviation infrastructure development on the economy and regional connectivity.