Noida International Airport (NIA) on Monday marked the beginning of flight operations with its first aircraft landing, an IndiGo flight arriving from Lucknow, followed shortly by the airport’s inaugural departure to the Uttar Pradesh capital, officials said.
The first flight carried 172 villagers from the Jewar region whose land was acquired by the Uttar Pradesh government for the airport’s first phase development.
With flight operations commencing at the Jewar-based greenfield airport, Delhi NCR joins a select group of global megacities served by multiple airports.
Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said what seemed impossible a decade ago had become reality under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He said that if India wants to become a developed nation, it must have a strong transport network.
Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for the airport on November 25, 2021, and inaugurated it on March 28, 2026.
"We want to see Noida International Airport grow, not only as a transit hub or a hub for transportation, but as an aerotropolis. When we say aerotropolis, we want to see multiple industries come around this area and create a strong economic base, which is not only going to be catering to the country but also internationally," Naidu said.
According to airport officials, IndiGo flight 6E 2278 departed from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow at 7:12 am and landed at Noida International Airport at 7:58 am.
The arrival marked the operational launch of the ambitious airport project, aimed at improving air connectivity between western Uttar Pradesh, the National Capital Region, and other parts of the country. The airport’s first departure took place around 8:10 am for Lucknow.
Among those onboard were Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh and officials of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), including CEO Rakesh Singh, Additional CEO Shailendra Bhatia, PCS officer and former Jewar SDM Abhay Singh.
Officials said the new connectivity is expected to benefit business travellers, students, professionals and other passengers by providing an additional travel option while supporting regional growth.
The airport has been developed as a multimodal transport hub, integrating air, road and other modes of connectivity, officials added.
In a statement, IndiGo Chief Strategy Officer Aloke Singh described the airport’s launch as a significant moment for Indian aviation.
"For IndiGo, the privilege of being the launch carrier at NIA is more than a commercial milestone; it is a commitment to western Uttar Pradesh, to the broader Delhi NCR, and the millions of travellers for whom this gateway opens new possibilities. We are proud to be here from day one," Singh said.
NIA Vice Chairman Christoph Schnellmann said IndiGo’s launch operations would strengthen connectivity to key destinations across the country.
"We look forward to working closely with IndiGo to deliver a seamless travel experience and support the continued growth of aviation, trade and tourism across the region," he said.
(With inputs from PTI)