India’s Noida Airport Readies For 2025 Opening

Noida International Airport (DXN), India’s ambitious greenfield project near New Delhi, is set to commence commercial operations in the coming months, initially targeting domestic routes before seeking to add flights to underserved international destinations.

Speaking to Aviation Week, CEO Christoph Schnellmann says the airport is nearing the final stages of construction and operational readiness. The second phase of trial operations will begin on Nov. 15, lasting a month, with the official opening planned for April 17, 2025. However, the opening could come before the end of the first quarter.

“We’re now in the final stretch,” Schnellmann says. “We’ve submitted all documentation to apply for the aerodrome license, aiming for completion by year-end.” This includes Instrument Landing System calibration and finalizing approach and departure procedures with the Airports Authority of India.

The airport, developed by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited—a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International—operates under a public-private partnership with the governments of Uttar Pradesh and India.

At launch, DXN will feature a single runway and terminal, capable of handling 12 million passengers annually. Its long-term master plan envisions capacity for 70 million passengers, placing it on par with New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.

“We've already secured commitments from two airline customers, so IndiGo and Akasa are committed to basing aircraft at the airport,” Schnellmann says. The LCCs will initially focus on adding domestic connectivity, linking key metro cities and regional destinations. Discussions are also ongoing regarding potential international routes, aligning with the airlines' fleet expansion plans.

Schnellmann also highlighted strong interest from international carriers, particularly in underserved regions such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East. “We've been in touch for a period of two years, at least not just with Indian carriers, but with international carriers as well. The interest is very strong,” he adds.

Sustainability has been a cornerstone of the new airport’s development, Schnellmann says, explaining that it will be a model of passive design, as well as featuring green space, electrical ground support equipment and renewable energy.

“We set the bar quite high for ourselves from day one,” he explains. “We want to operate the airport on a net-zero emissions basis. Over the next year, more than 50% of the electricity will be from solar or wind, and we have the capacity to expand on that as we as we see the airport operations start to take shape.”

DXN is located about 50 mi. south of New Delhi, close to the Yamuna Expressway. Plans are also underway for high-speed rail links to reduce reliance on road transport as passenger volumes grow.