Noida International Airport Gets DGCA Licence, Flights To Begin From May 2026

The long-awaited Noida International Airport has moved a major step closer to opening, after receiving its final operational clearance from India's aviation regulator. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted the aerodrome licence on Friday, allowing the airport to begin preparations for commercial flight operations.

With the licence now in place, authorities say domestic passenger and cargo flights could start within the next 45 days, as outlined in the project's operational plan. The clearance confirms that the airport meets all required safety, infrastructure and operational standards under the Aircraft Rules.

The approval came shortly after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) conducted a detailed security review and cleared the airport's surveillance systems, access control mechanisms and passenger screening infrastructure. The combined approvals remove the final regulatory barriers that had delayed the airport's launch earlier.

Officials involved in the project say the airport could be formally inaugurated before the end of March, with dates being coordinated with the Prime Minister's Office.

Located in Jewar in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar district, Noida International Airport is designed to become the second major aviation gateway for the National Capital Region, complementing Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.

In its first operational phase, the airport will run with one runway and a single passenger terminal, capable of handling about 12 million passengers annually. The runway stretches 3,900 metres and is equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and aeronautical ground lighting, enabling round-the-clock operations even in low visibility conditions.

The airport infrastructure also includes parking bays for 24 Code C aircraft and two Code D/F aircraft, along with advanced Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Category 9 services. This setup allows the airport to accommodate large wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777-300ER.

Airlines have already begun planning routes from the new facility. Carriers including IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India Express have indicated their intention to launch flights from the airport once operations begin.

Spread across roughly 1,300 hectares, the greenfield airport is expected to significantly ease air traffic pressure in the Delhi region while boosting connectivity for western Uttar Pradesh. Authorities are also planning a major cargo hub to support the surrounding industrial corridor.

Once all four phases of development are completed, Noida International Airport is projected to handle up to 70 million passengers annually, transforming it into one of northern India's largest aviation hubs.