The upcoming Noida International Airport in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, has moved a significant step closer to becoming operational after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted it an aerodrome licence, clearing the final regulatory hurdle required before commercial flight operations can begin.
The licence was formally handed over by Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, marking a major milestone for one of India’s most ambitious greenfield airport projects. The approval confirms that the airport’s infrastructure, safety systems, and operational procedures meet the standards mandated under India’s aviation regulations.
Officials said that domestic passenger and cargo flight operations are expected to begin within the next 45 days, once final operational preparations and airline scheduling are completed. The airport had recently also received security clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which further paved the way for the DGCA approval.
Located in Gautam Buddh Nagar district near Jewar, the Noida International Airport is being developed under a public-private partnership model by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International. The project is designed to serve as the second major airport for the National Capital Region (NCR), complementing Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and helping reduce congestion in the region’s rapidly growing aviation market.
In its first phase, the airport will feature a 3,900-metre runway, a modern passenger terminal, and advanced navigation and lighting systems, enabling round-the-clock operations under all weather conditions. The facility will initially handle around 12 million passengers annually, with expansion planned in multiple phases that could increase capacity to nearly 70 million passengers per year in the future.
Authorities also indicated that the airport may soon be formally inaugurated once the schedule is finalized. Once operational, the project is expected to significantly improve connectivity for Delhi-NCR and western Uttar Pradesh while boosting regional trade, tourism, logistics, and employment opportunities.
