Noida Airport to be inaugurated next month: Which cities will have flights from here

Air travellers from the National Capital Region will soon have a new airport option, as Noida International Airport (NIA) is set to be inaugurated on October 30. As per the TOI reports, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu announced the same on Wednesday. Within 45 days of the launch, the airport will start passenger services, which reports add, will initially cover around 10 cities, mostly metro cities. International connections have been scheduled for later.“Major cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata will be among the first to be linked. Apart from passenger operations, there is also significant potential for cargo flights," Naidu said during an event at the Hindon civil terminal in Ghaziabad.The airport concessionaire, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), has already signed agreements with airlines like IndiGo and Akasa Air. Read more: 9 weekend getaways from Mumbai under 200 kmProgress toward operational readiness has been steady. TOI reported that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) granted airside security clearance on September 15, a prerequisite for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to issue the aerodrome licence. Earlier in March, BCAS reviewed security submissions, including contingency plans for bomb threats, hijack scenarios, and the airport security programme. NIAL nodal officer Shailendra Kumar Bhatia confirmed that a DGCA inspection is due shortly.The airport is designed with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, with over 350 high-resolution CCTV cameras, electric fencing, and a Unified Security Operations Centre integrating all monitoring systems for 24x7 vigilance.Core infrastructure is largely complete, with finishing touches ongoing on the domestic terminal. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is installing and commissioning equipment at the air traffic control tower.To ensure smooth functioning from day one, a comprehensive Operational Readiness Activation and Transition (ORAT) programme is underway. This includes trial runs, system simulations, and staff training for airlines, ground handlers, and security personnel. Tests are ongoing for baggage systems, check-in counters, security scanners, and boarding gates.Read more: 5 UNESCO World Heritage sites to visit in South AmericaPhase 1 includes a single runway and terminal capable of handling 12 million passengers annually, with future phases scaling to 30 million, 50 million, and ultimately 70 million passengers. The first operational year is expected to serve around six million passengers.In December 2024, IndiGo conducted a validation flight to test navigational aids, approach procedures, and air traffic control systems. Despite multiple delays, from the original September 2024 deadline to April 2025, and then May-June, the airport is now ready for inauguration. The state government has imposed a daily penalty of Rs 10 lakh on YIAPL for delays, and officials inspected the site last week to finalise the inauguration venue, likely to be attended by the Prime Minister.Passenger and baggage checks in Phase 1 will include 13 security lanes, an automated tray retrieval system, in-line baggage screening, full-body scanners, and walk-through detectors. Role-based aviation security training has been provided to staff, concessionaires, and ground handlers to ensure operational readiness from day one.