Jewar Airport Clears Final Hurdle: DGCA Issues Aerodrome License to Noida Airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted an aerodrome license to Noida Airport, clearing the last regulatory hurdle before the Jewar facility goes operational.

The license has been issued to Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL)—a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, which is developing the airport under a public-private partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Government of India, on a 40-year concession that commenced in October 2021.

The license, issued under Rule 78 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, confirms that the airport has cleared the full regulatory checklist covering safety, infrastructure, and operational standards required before commercial flights can begin.

Domestic flights are expected to begin within 45 days of the grant of the Jewar airport license for the aerodrome.

• The DGCA grants a license to Noida airport under the Public Use category, clearing it for all-weather, round-the-clock operations
• The 3,900×45m runway is equipped with an Instrument Landing System and Aeronautical Ground Lighting for 24×7 use
• The apron can accommodate 24 Code C aircraft and two Code D/F aircraft simultaneously.
• ARFF Category 9 certification allows the airport to handle wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777-300ER.
• The aerodrome license to Noida airport confirms full compliance with safety, infrastructure, and operational standards set by DGCA
• The DGCA license marks a significant regulatory milestone, putting the airport on track for imminent commercial operations.
• The formal Noida International Airport inauguration date will be confirmed once the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) clears the Aerodrome Security Program.

1. Licensed under the Public Use category for all-weather operations
2. The first phase, one runway and one terminal, will handle up to 12 million passengers annually.
3. The full four-phase buildout, along with a multi-modal cargo hub, will eventually increase capacity to 70 million passengers annually.

Before flights take off, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) must approve the airport's Aerodrome Security Program (ASP)—a mandatory security clearance for passenger operations.

Once BCAS clears the Aerodrome Security Program, the Noida International Airport inauguration is expected to follow swiftly—with airline schedules, ticket sales, and the formal launch announcement all confirmed at that stage. Noida airport operations are anticipated to follow the security clearance closely.

IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India Express have already committed to operating flights from Noida International Airport, while cargo operators are close to finalizing agreements.

The airport connects directly to the Yamuna Expressway, putting Noida, Delhi, Gurugram, and western UP within easy reach. Agra, Mathura, and Vrindavan are under two hours away—positioning Noida airport operations as a genuine alternative gateway for the region.

Civil Aviation Minister Mr Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu described the opening of Noida International Airport as a turning point for air connectivity across NCR and western Uttar Pradesh, expecting the facility to drive tourism, investment, and economic activity while easing the load on Delhi's congested airspace.

Minister Rammohan Naidu described the partnership with Zurich Airport International AG as bringing Swiss operational efficiency into an Indian context.

The airport fits into a sharply expanding national picture. India’s aviation network has expanded from 74 operational airports in 2014 to around 164 today, strengthening its position as the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market.

The government's roadmap targets 400-plus airports by 2047, with Greenfield airports, brownfield upgrades, and the UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme are expected to drive this expansion.