Noida international airport (NIA) which begins commercial operations from Monday will see 40-42 daily flights in the first two months, its senior management told businessline in an interaction.

While cargo operations too start from day one, international flights are expected to start later this year with foreign carriers evincing interest to start services to the greenfield airport.

“In June we will have 12 daily flights and in July as more destinations get added we would have around 40-42 flights per day,” said Nitu Samra, the airport’s chief executive officer.

IndiGo and Akasa Air are launching operations from Noida airport next week but Air India however is yet to announce its plans.

“We remain in contact and in discussion with other domestic carriers and international carriers,” said Christoph Schnellmann, executive vice chairman of the airport’s board said.

Noida airport situated at Jewar will provide better air connectivity for residents and businesses in western Uttar Pradesh. The first phase consisting of a single runway and passenger terminal has been developed at cost of ₹11,200 crore.

Last month the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority allowed the Noida airport to collect Rs 490 as user development fee from domestic departing passengers.

Asked if high UDF would deter passengers from flying from Noida, Samra said the fee is not that high considering it is an greenfield airport. “Passengers now have an option to travel from either of the airports (Noida or Delhi) depending on where they are and depending upon the time of the day. They will make a choice,” she said.

The airport estimates it will handle five million passengers in the first full year of operations and is not revising its projections despite rise in aviation turbine fuel price that has led airlines to cancel flights.

“We are indeed in a situation where the industry is facing headwinds in India as well as globally. And our takeaway is that it makes traffic outlook and the traffic forecast in the short term just much more difficult to predict,” Schnellmann said.

“I am convinced we are going to be able to provide passenger experience that sort of combine the technology and operational efficiency that our parent company ( Zurich Airport) is known for,” Schnellmann said.

“Let’s say the materials that have been put to use in the terminal, the architectural elements that we have used the artwork, the ornamentation, the food and beverage offering again very much something that’s hopefully unique and very much at home in Western Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

Navi Mumbai airport began operations last December. Asked about Noida airport’s learning from the launch, Schnellmann said team at Navi Mumbai worked hard for months to successfully launch the operation.

“Similarly we have been working on operational readiness and testing and hopefully we will start successfully on Monday,” he remarked.

Published on June 13, 2026