The highly anticipated launch of Noida International Airport could face delays, commercial flight operations being unlikely to start as planned for April 17, 2025. Officers of Noida International Airport Limited (Nial) have confirmed that the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to issue the airport aerodrome license only by April 30, posting the initial calendar.
A final decision on the operational start date will be made on March 10, when the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, will examine the progress of the project. This meeting will also finalize crucial details such as flight schedules, the number of operational flights and initially launching services.
Several key regulatory measures remain before flights can take off. Airports Authority of India (AAI) was due to publish on Thursday the aeronautical information publication (AIP), an essential step that officially lists the airport in the world aviation archives, but this has been delayed due to the current infrastructure work.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) must also give final authorization before the start of commercial operations. The air navigation system (years), a critical component for air traffic management, is expected to be installed by March 31.
On Wednesday, a high -level meeting of the DGCA examined the progress of the project and stressed that, although the lower floors of the terminal, intended for national passengers, are in the process of completion, the international section remains unfinished. This means that international flights may not be part of the initial launch.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding its launch, Noida International Airport has already sparked a real estate boom in the Grand Noida, Jewar and the corridor of the Yamuna motorway.
The prices of the land in Jewar have soared more than 400% since 2018, when the airport project has grown. The prices of residential properties in Noida have increased, rates by square foot from 4,700 to 4,900 square feet in 2019 to 7,500 to 10,000 ₹ in premium projects today. The properties along the Yamuna motorway have appreciated 40% in the past five years, with a planned increase of 50% by 2030. Commercial real estate demand is also booming, while businesses seek to establish offices near the airport, a growing retail, hospitality and offices.
With improved road networks, metro extensions and the development of new economic zones, Noida International Airport should transform the region into a major shopping center, which stimulates the demand and investment of goods more.
The March 10 meeting in Lucknow will bring together the main stakeholders, including the president of Tata Sons, Tata Projects MD, and senior officials of DGCA, AAI, BCAS, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL) and Nial. They will present a situation report to the chief minister, determining the revised launching calendar.
