Noida International Airport, poised to become the second airport serving Delhi-NCR in 2024, has emerged as a focal point of interest for both domestic and international airlines. Christoph Schnellmann, Chief Executive Officer of Noida International Airport, revealed that the airport has witnessed strong enthusiasm from airlines, including foreign carriers, eager to establish flight connections between Jewar and overseas destinations.
Schnellmann affirmed, “We have seen strong interest from domestic carriers and international carriers as well. We have been busy introducing our airport project to the international airline community, and their interest has been very, very high.” This heightened interest reflects the increasing number of Indians desiring to travel and a growing demand for flights to and from India.
“The response that we have been getting has been very encouraging,” Schnellmann added. As India’s aviation landscape continues to evolve, both domestic and international carriers are keen to meet the surging demand for air travel, positioning Noida International Airport as a crucial hub for the Delhi-NCR region.
The airport’s foundation was laid in November 2021, and it is making significant progress toward completing the first phase of construction by the end of 2024. During this initial phase, the airport is expected to accommodate 12 million passengers annually and oversee 96,400 flights. Schnellmann assured that the team is diligently working to ensure the airport’s timely commencement of operations, including organizing test flights several months before the start of commercial operations.
Tata Projects, which was awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for the airport in June 2022, is actively advancing the project. Currently, work on the structural steel support for the passenger terminal’s roof is underway, and the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower has reached a height exceeding 30 meters. An impressive workforce of around 7,000 individuals is fully engaged at the construction site.
In the coming months, more than 20 buildings are set to take shape at the site, encompassing the passenger terminal, office blocks, sewage and water treatment facilities, electric substations, and ATC towers. The airport has also initiated tenders for various aeronautical and non-aeronautical concessions. Tenders for food and beverage concessions, as well as lounges, are already in place, while advertising and ground handling concessions will be announced shortly.
Schnellmann highlighted their intent to create an airport experience blending Swiss efficiency with Indian hospitality, promising familiar local cuisine and international culinary offerings. Recently, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) allocated the three-letter code DXN to Noida International Airport, marking another milestone in its journey towards becoming a major aviation hub.