The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted an aerodrome licence to the upcoming Noida International Airport (NIA), marking the final regulatory approval before the airport becomes operational. The licence confirms that the facility meets the safety and operational standards required by the aviation regulator.
Officials said the approval clears a key hurdle ahead of the airport's launch and allows preparations for flight operations to move forward.
Airport cleared for 24×7 operations
According to a government statement, the licence places the airport under the Public Use category for all-weather operations.
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"The airport has been licensed under the Public Use category for all-weather operations. It features a runway with orientation 10/28 and dimensions of 3,900 m × 45 m, supported by an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Aeronautical Ground Lighting (AGL) system, enabling 24×7 operations. The aerodrome has parking stands for 24 Code C and 02 Code D/F aircraft and is equipped with ARFF Category 9 facilities capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777-300ER," Hindustan Times quoted the statement.
The approval came a day after the airport received mandatory security clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
Following the DGCA licence, cargo and domestic flight operations are expected to begin within 45 days as per the project plan.
Earlier delays and security concerns
The airport’s launch was earlier delayed after the BCAS raised several concerns during inspections. One of the major issues involved possible interference with the Doppler Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (DVOR), a navigation system used by aircraft to determine their position relative to ground stations.
Authorities also questioned a steel wall built near the DVOR, saying it could affect the safety of aircraft during take-off and landing. The airport operator was asked to replace the temporary structure with a permanent wall.
"While constructing the permanent wall will take a few months, BCAS has granted clearance on the condition that a permanent structure is built within six months," an official familiar with the matter said.
A major aviation project for NCR
Spread across about 1,300 hectares in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, Noida International Airport was originally scheduled to begin operations in September 2024.
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The project is expected to handle around 12 million passengers annually in its first phase. Once all four phases are completed, the airport will have the capacity to manage up to 70 million passengers per year.
The airport is being developed by Zurich Airport International AG through its Indian subsidiary Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL) under a 40-year public-private partnership.
It will serve as the second major airport for the National Capital Region after Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, with plans to develop it into a major aviation and cargo hub for western Uttar Pradesh.
