Noida airport to triple flights from July; IndiGo to lead major expansion

Noida International Airport (NIA) plans to nearly triple its flight operations from July, expanding from the current 12 daily flights to around 40-45 daily services connecting 16-17 destinations, after using its first 10 days of operations to stabilise systems and address unexpected teething issues, The Times of India reported.

Speaking to TOI, NIA Vice Chairman Christoph Schnellmann said the airport was "very pleased" with its initial operations since commercial services began on June 15 and was now preparing for a significant expansion in connectivity.

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The airport, which currently handles six arrivals and six departures daily by IndiGo and Akasa to five cities — Navi Mumbai, Jammu, Amritsar, Hyderabad and Bengaluru — will add direct services to destinations including Mumbai, Srinagar, Bareilly, Bhopal, Dehradun, Dharamshala, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, Lucknow and Pantnagar from next month.

The airport official said that a bulk of the airport's services are serviced by IndiGo and it will be the same in July.

Commercial flight operations at the Noida Airport began on June 15, with IndiGo operating the inaugural scheduled service from Lucknow before continuing onward to Bengaluru.

According to the report, while technical issues involving e-gates, DigiYatra access and air-conditioning systems surfaced during the initial days, the airport operator used the limited flight schedule to stabilise operations. The airport continues to face challenges beyond its control, including high app-based cab fares and limited public transport connectivity.

Industry sources told TOI that dependence on expensive taxis and slow growth in local passenger traffic remain concerns, although the airport chief said the airport is connected through a six-lane expressway and AC electric bus services operated by YEIDA.

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The airport is also in talks with Indian and foreign airlines to further expand its network. Schnellmann said infrastructure required for international operations, including customs and immigration facilities, is expected to be ready by the end of the year.

The airport currently has seven food and beverage outlets and other retail stores operational. Expansion of the terminal beyond its annual capacity of 1.2 crore passengers will begin once it reaches 80% utilisation, though no timeline has been indicated.

(With inputs from TOI)