Blitz Bureau
IN a historic moment, the Noida International Airport at Jewar successfully conducted the first flight validation test, paving the way to begin its full-fledged operations next year. The flight was accorded a ceremonial water cannon salute In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The upcoming Noida International Airport will boost connectivity and ‘Ease of Living’ for the NCR and Uttar Pradesh. Our Government has been taking many steps to ensure top-quality infrastructure for the people and leverage the power of connectivity to further prosperity.”
The trial flight on December 9, which came from Delhi and landed at 1.30 p.m., carried Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials, and technical experts. It was a crucial step in testing the airport’s readiness.
The team onboard gathered comprehensive technical data during the takeoff, flight, and landing phases to ensure operational safety and efficiency. During the trial, the aircraft performed a 15-minute flight before landing on the 3,900-metre runway at Jewar. After a brief five-minute stop, the plane took off again. The collected data will be sent to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for further analysis.
Trials will continue till December 15. The first commercial flight from the airport is expected to take off in April 2025. Approximately 85 per cent of the airport’s construction work has been completed. Advanced systems like CAT-1 and CAT-3 Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), which enhance aircraft visibility during foggy conditions, have already been installed and tested in October.
The work of the 3.9 km runway is fully complete. The terminal Building is nearing completion with roof finishing and equipment installation works going on. A 38-metre-high Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower is fully operational. Operated by Zurich International Airport AG, the Noida International Airport will have a 40-year management contract. Once operational in April, it will handle 65 flights per day, including 62 domestic, 2 international, and a cargo flight, serving 12 million passengers annually.
