New wings for Noida: How Jewar airport will expand in phases

The Noida International Airport was formally inaugurated today, adding a second international airport to the Delhi-NCR region. The new airport is expected to reduce the pressure on Indira Gandhi International Airport while giving passengers in Noida, Greater Noida and western Uttar Pradesh a major new travel option.

The first phase of the airport has been developed across 1,334 hectares and includes a modern passenger terminal, one runway, a cargo facility, aircraft parking stands and supporting infrastructure. Officials said the first phase has been designed to handle current demand while also leaving room for large-scale expansion in the coming years.

In the first phase itself, the Noida International Airport has the capacity to handle 1.2 crore passengers annually. The terminal includes dozens of check-in counters, boarding gates with aerobridges, lounges and modern baggage systems to ensure smoother movement of passengers from arrival to boarding.

The second phase of the airport will begin once passenger traffic reaches around 80% of the Phase-1 capacity. Under this phase, the airport’s capacity will increase to 3 crore passengers a year and will include expansion of the terminal building and construction of a second runway.

In Phase 3, the airport will expand further with the addition of a new terminal building. Once this phase is completed, the airport will be able to handle around 5 crore passengers every year, making it one of the largest aviation hubs in northern India.

By the fourth phase, the Noida International Airport is expected to handle up to 7 crore passengers every year. The final phase will also include expansion of the cargo hub and additional infrastructure to support long-term aviation growth in the region.

The newly inaugurated terminal includes 48 check-in counters, domestic and international lounges, multiple boarding gates with aerobridges and dedicated baggage pickup areas. Officials said the airport has been designed to provide a modern passenger experience similar to major international airports.

Apart from passenger flights, the airport will also operate as a cargo and logistics hub. In the first phase itself, the facility has the capacity to handle more than 2.5 lakh metric tonnes of cargo annually, with plans to expand this capacity significantly in future phases.

Once all four phases are completed, the Noida International Airport will cover nearly 4,752 hectares. Land is being acquired in multiple phases across several villages to support long-term expansion of passenger and cargo operations.

With the airport now inaugurated and flight operations expected to begin soon, the project is expected to significantly improve connectivity for Noida, Greater Noida and the entire Delhi-NCR region while reducing congestion at Delhi’s main airport.