PM Modi to launch Noida International Airport on March 28: When flights begin; new facilities

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Phase 1 of the Noida International Airport, the second international airport in the National Capital Region (NCR), on March 28 (Saturday). Air travel to and from the NCR region would become easier and cheaper once the airport gets operational. 

Meanwhile, passengers hope that the airfare will go down when domestic flights begin from here to various destinations across the country, including Kerala. It is assumed that ticket fares would be 10-15 per cent lower in Noida than at Delhi airport. The airport was built by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Switzerland-based Zurich Airport International AG and Noida International Airport Limited. The foundation stone was laid on November 26, 2021, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Airport facilities
In the first phase, 200 AC buses owned by the UP government will run services to the airport. Passengers could take the bus from the Botanical Garden Metro Station, Noida Sector 35, Sikandapur and Khurja. Besides, the construction of the special metro line connecting the Delhi Metro to the Aqua Line in Noida is progressing rapidly. The construction of this line will reportedly be over by 2030. Special arrangements have been made at the airport for availing online taxi services. 

Flight services
Although the airport will be launched tomorrow, regular flight services will begin only after April 16. In the initial stages, airlines such as IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India Express will operate services from here. Meanwhile, up to 30 daily services will be scheduled from the airport.

Main services
The services would be to Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Dehradun and Hubli (Karnataka). International routes would be announced only after the domestic services are operational. Meanwhile, global cities like Dubai, Singapore and Zurich are likely to be on the list in the next phase. 

Low ticket price
Tickets from this airport to various destinations will be at least 10-15 per cent cheaper than those from the Delhi airport. An air ticket from Delhi to Lucknow costs Rs 3,500, but it is only Rs 2,800 from Noida. Ticket prices decrease as the distance increases. A crucial decision by the UP government to exempt airline fuel from VAT has helped reduce airfares. 

At a glance
•Terminal that sprawls in 1.38 lakh square metres
•48 check–in counters, nine safety ways, nine immigration counters, separate lounges for domestic and international passengers
•10 aerobridges, 28 aircraft parking stands, a runway that can handle up to 30 landings and take–offs in an hour
•Modern cargo hub that has a capacity to handle 2.5 lakh tons of cargo per year
•DigiYatra biometric processing, self–baggage drop facilities
•Solar energy, rainwater harvesting, electric vehicle charging hub, separate ground travel hub for taxis and buses

Where is the airport?
The Noida International Airport is just 750 metres away from the Yamuna Expressway in Jewar, Noida. 
Distance from the major places around Delhi and the time it takes to reach the airport:
•Cannaught Place – 78 km, 1.5 hours
•Ghaziabad RRTS Station – 83 km, 75 minutes
•Pari Chowk, Greater Noida – 44 km, 30 minutes
•Botanical Garden Metro Station – 65 km, one hour
•Faridabad – 60 km, 1.5 hours
•INA Market – 75 km, 75 minutes
•RK Puram – 80 km, 1.5 hours
•Okhla – 75 km, 1.5 hours
•Dwaraka – 97 km, 2.15 hours
•Mayur Vihar Phase 1 Metro Station – 70 km, 70 minutes