PM Modi to inaugurate Noida Airport next month as UP positions Jewar as India’s next aviation hub

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Noida International Airport at Jewar next month, marking a significant milestone in Uttar Pradesh’s infrastructure expansion strategy and India’s rapidly growing aviation sector.

The announcement was made by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his official visit to Singapore, where he is meeting global investors, infrastructure funds and members of the Indian diaspora to promote the state’s investment potential.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Jewar International Airport next month. This project represents the new Uttar Pradesh, driven by infrastructure, connectivity and opportunity,” Adityanath said, describing the airport as a symbol of the state’s economic transformation.

The foundation stone for the greenfield airport was laid by Modi in November 2021 in the presence of the Chief Minister. Since then, the project has evolved into one of India’s largest airport developments.

The airport is built at an estimated cost exceeding ₹29,000 crore in its first phase and spans over 1,300 hectares and has been designed for scalable, multi-runway expansion. The development is being executed by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, under a 40-year concession agreement.

In its initial phase, the airport is expected to handle around 12 million passengers annually. Long-term expansion plans aim to raise capacity to nearly 70 million passengers per year, positioning it among the country’s largest aviation hubs.

Last year, IndiGo conducted validation and trial landings at the airport as an important operational milestone. The trials assessed runway strength, instrument landing systems, navigation aids and ground handling protocols, all critical prerequisites before commercial operations commence.

The successful trials signalled readiness for phased airline onboarding and slot allocation, paving the way for commercial launch.

Strategically located in western Uttar Pradesh, the Noida International Airport is expected to significantly decongest the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi, which currently handles over 70 million passengers annually and is among the busiest airports in Asia.

During his interaction with the Indian community in Singapore, Adityanath said the Jewar facility is set to become one of the largest airports in India and highlighted that Uttar Pradesh now has the highest number of operational airports in the country.

Once fully operational, the airport is expected to serve as a major passenger and cargo hub for the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining states.

Beyond passenger traffic, the Jewar project is positioned as a major catalyst for industrial and logistics growth along the Yamuna Expressway corridor. It is expected to attract investment in cargo terminals, warehousing clusters, export-oriented manufacturing units, and aviation-linked services including Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities.

The airport’s integration with planned multimodal connectivity, road, rail and expressway networks is aimed at transforming the region into a high-value logistics and manufacturing ecosystem.

During his Singapore visit from February 22 to 24, Chief Minister Adityanath also reviewed a detailed presentation on skill development and vocational training at The Institute of Technical Education (ITE). The visit saw the signing of key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening collaboration in technical education and aviation skill development.

The state government is positioning aviation-led infrastructure growth alongside workforce capability enhancement, seeking to align airport expansion with training pipelines for ground operations, maintenance, and allied services.

For India, the Noida International Airport represents more than additional runway capacity. It reflects a broader structural upgrade of northern India’s aviation and logistics framework, linking air connectivity with trade expansion and regional economic integration.

With its phased expansion model and concession-based development structure, Jewar is set to play a pivotal role in reshaping traffic flows in the National Capital Region while anchoring a new industrial corridor in western Uttar Pradesh.

The inauguration next month will mark the formal operational entry of what is being positioned as one of India’s most ambitious greenfield airport projects.