Delhi-NCR is about to welcome a new gateway in the skies. The Noida International Airport (NIA), one of India’s most ambitious aviation projects, is racing toward its final milestones and is expected to start operations by the fourth quarter of 2025. Once the first flights take off, industry insiders say the airport could handle as many as six million passengers in its debut year, a figure that hints at the scale of transformation awaiting the region.
According to NIA’s Chief Executive Officer Christoph Schnellmann, the aeronautical infrastructure is largely complete. The passenger terminal’s roofing is in place, finishing touches are underway, and the Airports Authority of India is installing and testing equipment for the air traffic control tower. In parallel, the airport has entered its Operational Readiness, Activation and Transition (ORAT) programme, a series of rigorous trial runs and simulations that test everything from baggage systems and check-in counters to security screening and boarding gates. These dry runs are crucial to ensure passengers encounter a seamless journey from day one.
Terminal trials began in July, with full-scale testing of passenger flow and coordination between multiple stakeholders already in progress. Cargo operations, too, are on the horizon. The cargo terminal is nearing completion, and ORAT procedures for freight handling will commence shortly. Commissioning of the fuel farm and hydrant system is also scheduled to begin in the coming weeks.
As the airport prepares for launch, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) has issued an interim tariff order. Departing domestic passengers will pay a User Development Fee (UDF) of INR 490, while international departures will be charged INR 980. Arriving passengers, too, will contribute INR 210 for domestic and INR 420 for international arrivals. These charges, valid until March 2026 or until a final tariff order is released, will support the airport’s early infrastructure costs.
NIA’s first phase includes one runway and a single terminal, with the capacity to serve up to 12 million passengers annually, double the projected first-year demand. But this is only the beginning. Over the next phases of development, the airport will expand to four runways and multiple terminals, eventually handling up to 70 million passengers a year. Once complete, it will rank among the largest aviation hubs in the country.
The road to this stage hasn’t been without bumps. Originally slated to open by the end of 2024, and later April 2025, construction deadlines were pushed due to global supply chain issues, especially in sourcing structural steel and roofing materials. Yet, despite the delays, connectivity plans are on track. IndiGo is expected to be the first carrier to launch services from NIA under a signed Memorandum of Understanding. Several foreign airlines have also expressed interest, setting the stage for international operations soon after the launch.
For travellers across northern India, the airport’s opening promises more than convenience. It will ease the heavy congestion at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport while offering state-of-the-art facilities and smoother connections for both business and leisure passengers. With its modern design, ambitious capacity, and strategic location in Jewar, NIA is not just another airport; it is a statement of India’s growing aviation aspirations.
As the countdown to late 2025 continues, the excitement is palpable. The skies above Delhi-NCR are about to get busier, and millions of travellers are ready for takeoff with Noida’s newest aviation hub.
1. When will Noida International Airport begin operations?
The airport is expected to start domestic flights and cargo services by the fourth quarter of 2025.
2. How many passengers will the airport handle in its first year?
NIA is projected to serve around six million passengers in its inaugural year.
3. What is the long-term capacity of the airport?
Once all four development phases are complete, NIA will be able to handle up to 70 million passengers annually.
4. Which airlines will operate first from NIA?
IndiGo is expected to be the first airline to launch flights, with several international carriers also expressing interest.
5. How much will passengers pay as fees at NIA?
Departing domestic flyers will pay INR 490 plus taxes, international departures ₹980, and arriving passengers INR 210 (domestic) and INR 420 (international).