The Noida International Airport in Greater Noida marked a significant milestone on 9 December 2024 as its first trial flight landed, receiving a ceremonial water cannon salute. The flight, carrying AAI officials and technical experts, conducted a 15-minute trial before landing on the completed 3,900-metre runway and later took off after a brief stop. The data collected during this trial will be analyzed by the DGCA, with trials continuing until 15 December.
The airport, operated by Zurich International Airport AG, is 85% complete, with the terminal building and equipment installation nearing finalization. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower is fully operational, and advanced landing systems (CAT-1 and CAT-3 ILS) have been successfully tested.
The first commercial flight is scheduled for April 2025, with the airport expected to handle 65 daily flights (62 domestic, 2 international, and 1 cargo), serving 12 million passengers annually. Upon full completion, it will be the fourth largest airport in Asia, with a 40-year management contract by Zurich International Airport AG.
