First passenger flight touches down at Jewar airport, marking start of operations

Noida International Airport welcomed its first commercial flight on Monday morning, marking the start of passenger operations nearly three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the facility.

An IndiGo flight from Lucknow landed at the airport at 7:55 a.m., becoming the first scheduled commercial service to operate from the new aviation hub. Passengers on board applauded as the aircraft touched down and it was greeted with a ceremonial water cannon salute upon arrival.

The inaugural service, IndiGo flight 6E-2278, departed from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow. The return flight is scheduled to leave Noida at 6:55 p.m. and reach Lucknow at 8 p.m.

The airport is set to expand operations further, with Akasa Air launching daily flights to Bengaluru and Navi Mumbai from Tuesday, becoming the second airline to operate from the facility.

While passenger services commenced on Monday, the airport’s first cargo flight is expected to take off on Wednesday, operating on a domestic route.

Boost to Uttar Pradesh connectivity

Officials see the launch of operations as a significant milestone for Uttar Pradesh’s aviation network, improving connectivity between the state’s administrative, industrial and commercial centres.

Many travellers between Noida and Lucknow currently rely on flights through Delhi’s airport or undertake lengthy road journeys. The new direct air link is expected to reduce travel time and improve convenience.

The airport has been developed under a public-private partnership by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG.

Designed to handle wide-body aircraft, the facility features a 3,900-metre runway along with advanced navigation systems, including an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and modern airfield lighting infrastructure.

Security arrangements include an AI-enabled surveillance network and the deployment of nearly 1,030 personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Uttar Pradesh Police has also established a dedicated police station within the airport premises.