Noida International Airport in Jewar started commercial flight operations on Monday, June 15, 2026. The first flight from Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport landed at 8:05 am, officially opening passenger services at the new greenfield airport.
The inaugural Lucknow-Noida flight was operated by IndiGo. The return flight, IndiGo 6E-2279, was scheduled to depart from Noida at 6:55 pm and reach Lucknow around 8 pm. Passengers reportedly applauded as the aircraft touched down, marking a memorable start for the airport.
A key highlight of the launch was the recognition of farmers who gave their land for the Jewar airport project. Around 170 to 172 farmers, including women farmers, were listed among the early passengers on a flight to Lucknow.
They were expected to travel with Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh to meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The move was planned as a gesture of appreciation for their role in the airport’s development.
The airport is expected to improve connectivity for Noida, Greater Noida, western Uttar Pradesh and nearby NCR areas. Until now, many passengers depended on Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport or long road travel.
Initial routes are expected to connect Jewar with Lucknow, Bengaluru and other destinations. More routes may be added in phases as airlines expand services from the new airport.
Officials said nearly 1,030 CISF personnel have been deployed at the airport. The UP Police has also opened a dedicated airport police station, while dog squads, firefighting units, medical teams and quick reaction teams have been placed at the site.
The airport is being monitored with high-resolution CCTV cameras and AI-based surveillance, including facial recognition and suspicious activity detection.
Noida International Airport aims to handle about five million passengers in its first year. In the long term, it is planned to expand capacity to nearly 70 million passengers. The airport is expected to reduce pressure on Delhi airport, support business travel and become a major aviation hub for western Uttar Pradesh and the NCR region.
