Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday conducted an extensive review of the nearly completed Noida International Airport in Jewar, describing it as a “symbol of Uttar Pradesh’s development and a turning point in its aviation history.” During his visit, he inspected the domestic terminal, examined security and traffic arrangements, and assessed the site for the upcoming inauguration ceremony. He also chaired a high-level meeting with district officials, representatives from Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL), and members of the airport’s construction agency to evaluate overall progress and readiness.
Emphasising the importance of maintaining excellence, the Chief Minister directed all stakeholders to ensure that quality, timeliness, and coordination remain top priorities. He warned that there should be no relaxation in preparations and instructed that every aspect of the airport’s construction, from infrastructure to passenger facilities, must meet the highest standards.
The Jewar airport, spread across 3,300 acres in its first phase, is reportedly 95% complete and expected to be inaugurated by November 2025. The state has already acquired land worth ₹5,000 crore, and construction expenditure has reached approximately ₹7,000 crore. The initial phase will feature a single runway with an annual capacity to handle 12 million passengers and 150 daily flights. Expansion plans include adding a second runway once passenger traffic exceeds 10 million annually, ultimately extending the airport to five runways over 11,750 acres. Once completed, it will be capable of handling 300 million passengers per year, ranking Jewar among the largest airports globally.
Yogi Adityanath instructed officials to prioritise strong security arrangements, efficient traffic management, and passenger convenience, while also ensuring the cleanliness and beautification of surrounding areas. He reviewed plans for the inauguration event, directing that roads, parking spaces, sanitation systems, lighting, and public amenities must all be operational and of top quality. Additionally, he stressed the importance of the timely completion of major connectivity projects, such as metro extensions and the Ghaziabad–Jewar Rapid Rail Transit System, estimated at ₹16,000 crore and expected to be completed by 2031.
Situated along the Yamuna Expressway, just 75 kilometres from Delhi, the Noida International Airport is strategically positioned to serve the National Capital Region, Haryana, Rajasthan, and western Uttar Pradesh. Adityanath remarked that Jewar will not only link Uttar Pradesh to the world but will also transform the state into a central hub for connectivity, logistics, and economic prosperity. IndiGo will serve as the launch carrier, while Akasa Air plans to operate both domestic and international services. Talks are ongoing with several airlines from the Middle East and Southeast Asia to introduce additional routes.
Beyond passenger operations, the airport has been designed as a complete aviation ecosystem, integrating cargo and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities. A multi-modal cargo terminal, developed in partnership with Air India SATS, is nearing completion. This component is expected to strengthen northern India’s logistics, e-commerce, manufacturing, and cold-chain sectors. Nearly 9,000 workers are currently employed at the construction site, and the project is projected to generate up to one lakh direct and indirect jobs once it becomes fully operational.
Over the past decade, Uttar Pradesh’s aviation sector has witnessed remarkable growth. In 2017, the state had only a handful of airports with scheduled flights. Today, it boasts 24 airports, with 16 operational and 7 under construction. Upon Jewar’s inauguration, Uttar Pradesh will become the only Indian state with five international airports—Lucknow, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Ayodhya, and Jewar. Passenger traffic has also surged, with 1.5 crore passengers using the state’s airports in 2024–25, including 13 lakh international travellers. This reflects a steady 10.1% annual growth rate since 2017. Improved air connectivity has driven tourism, with Ayodhya and Varanasi recording a 30% increase in visitors, while overall tourist arrivals exceeded 50 crore in 2023, about 20% of whom travelled by air.
The air cargo sector has grown significantly as well. Varanasi handled more than 6,000 tonnes of cargo in 2024–25, marking a 28% increase from the previous year, while Lucknow’s cargo terminal reached a record 700 tonnes per month. The resulting boost in connectivity has spurred industrial expansion and real estate development across the NCR–UP corridor, with property prices rising by 20–30%. The aviation sector now contributes around 2–3% to the state’s GDP, a sharp increase from under 1% in 2017.
Uttar Pradesh’s transformation into an aviation hub has been guided by the government’s “One Division, One Airport” policy, aimed at promoting equitable regional development. Under this initiative, air connectivity is being extended to smaller cities such as Aligarh, Azamgarh, and Shravasti. New airports like Ayodhya, inaugurated in early 2024, have already demonstrated strong performance, handling over a million passengers within their first year of operation.
As Uttar Pradesh readies itself for the inauguration of its largest infrastructure project to date, the Jewar airport stands not only as a gateway to global connectivity but also as a symbol of the state’s rising economic stature and its growing prominence in India’s aviation landscape.
