The Noida International Airport (NIA) will open for flyers this December, but the travellers will have to wait a few more months for international flights from here. Noida’s Jewar airport is aimed at de-congesting Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, by providing domestic and international travel options.
However, NIA CEO Christoph Schnellmann told Times of India that the international operations at the airport will begin in the “first half of 2026”. Schnellmann added that in the first few weeks after opening, it will operate for a “limited window of daytime”, and would gradually operate flights in the night.
“We are planning the ramp up of operations keeping in mind safety of passengers and operations; reliability and flyer experience, with our launch carriers IndiGo, Air India Express & Akasa and the Airports Authority of India (which provides air traffic control) and the DGCA. For several weeks I expect to have daytime operations. The same will be extended as time progresses,” he told ToI.
Meanwhile, in a significant milestone, a calibration flight by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) successfully landed at the Noida International Airport, officials said.
This crucial test, conducted before any new airport becomes operational, verifies the accuracy of the airport’s navigation and communication systems, a statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh government said.
“The successful completion of the calibration flight marks a major step forward for Jewar airport, bringing it closer to meeting international aviation safety standards and expediting the process of securing operational clearance,” it added.
Why in 2026?
Explaining the reason behind the move, Schnellmann said that the airport can have international flights operating only after the domestic flights and 24-hour operation have stabilised.
“We will start with domestic flights with a focus on safety and passenger experience. Once that stabilises, we will extend the operations to a 24-hour window and then have international flights which I expect in the first half of 2026 or early next year,” he told ToI.
The transition will take place after a detailed Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) exercise — which is an internationally recognised process ensuring fully preparedness before full-scale operations.
Final checks to ensure safety
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is overseeing the checks of flights at the airport this week, which are necessary in determining operational readiness before the airport’s inauguration. Like any other airport, the greenfield airport in Noida’s Jewar will witness phased launch.
The Mopa airport in Goa began domestic flights in January 2023 and started international flights six months later. Similarly, the Navi Mumbai International Airport, which is also expected to open soon, will initially operate domestic flights before beginning operations on international routes in some months.