After several delays, Noida International Airport Phase 1 set to open tomorrow: All you need to know

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the first phase of Noida International Airport in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, March 28. After several delays, the airport is finally set to open, becoming the second international airport serving the Delhi-NCR region.

• Noida International Airport will be the first airport in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, with a capacity of 70 million, complementing the existing passenger capacity of 110 million at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in neighboring Delhi.
• The two airports, IGIA and Noida International Airport, will function as an integrated aviation system that will ease congestion, expand passenger capacity and place Delhi-NCR among the leading global aviation hubs, the government said.
• The first phase of the airport has been developed with a total investment of around Rs 11,200 crore under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The government said it is among the largest new airport projects in the country.
• While the airport will initially have a passenger handling capacity of 12 million passengers per annum (MPPA), it can handle up to 70 million passengers per annum once complete. As per the master plan submitted by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), the initial passenger movement is expected to be 4 MPa.
• The airport’s runway, which extends more than 3,900 metres, can handle wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777-300ER, along with modern navigation systems, including an automated landing system (ILS) and advanced airport lighting.
• The government said the airport also includes a cargo ecosystem, including a multimodal cargo hub featuring an integrated cargo terminal and logistics areas. The shipping facility is designed to handle more than 2.5 million metric tons per year, expandable to approximately 18,000 metric tons, and includes a dedicated 40-acre maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility. “Noida International Airport aims to operate as a zero-emission facility, incorporating energy-efficient systems and environmentally responsible practices. Its architectural design draws inspiration from Indian heritage, incorporating elements reminiscent of traditional ghats and havelis, thus blending cultural beauty with modern infrastructure,” the statement said.
• The airport’s location on the major Yamuna Expressway connecting Delhi to major UP cities is connected as a seamless integration across road, rail, metro and regional transport systems. “The Noida International Airport is strategically located along the Yamuna Expressway and is planned to be a multi-modal transport hub with seamless integration across road, rail, metro and regional transport systems, ensuring efficient connectivity of passengers and cargo,” the government said.
• The airport’s catchment area, marked with a free travel time of 120 minutes, includes Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar and parts of Meerut, Sonipat, Jhajjar and Rewari.

Zurich Airport International AG won the tender for the airport development in Jewar and signed the concession agreement on 7 October 2020 through a special purpose vehicle, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited. Founded on January 22, 2020, YIAPL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG. Under the agreement, YIAPL will develop the airport under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model for an initial concession period of 40 years.