Noida airport launch: Why April 17 deadline is critical

Jewar International Airport

Noida International Airport is scheduled to begin commercial flight operations for both domestic and international routes on April 17 next year.

This announcement came following a high-level meeting led by Noida International Airport Ltd (NIAL) on Tuesday. During the meeting, Yamuna International Airport Ltd (YIAPL), a subsidiary of Swiss airports giant Zurich AG, presented a detailed timeline outlining the necessary clearances for the airport's launch.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has instructed NIAL and other relevant agencies to finalize flight schedules and critical timelines ahead of the airport's launch, ensuring a smooth and timely opening without any delays or complications.

The airport, which will be the second facility of its kind in the Delhi-NCR region, was originally slated to start operations by the end of September this year. It is designed to accommodate up to 65 daily flights, including 62 on domestic routes, two for international destinations, and one cargo flight.

“The concessionaire has submitted a plan to start commercial operations by April 17. But we will try to bring the launch date forward. The timeline is crucial because any deviation from the April 17 deadline could result in a further six-month delay in securing international approvals and time slots from the International Air Transport Association (IATA),” NIAL CEO Arun Vir Singh was quoted by The Times of India.

Singh suggested on Tuesday that the number of flights was unlikely to change next year. He said talks had been initiated with IATA for international slots and DGCA for domestic routes.

Talking about the progress of the project, the NIAL CEO said flight trials, including those conducted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), were scheduled for Nov 30.