Noida International Airport Faces Delay Due to Slow Terminal Construction.

The opening of Noida International Airport will be delayed beyond its targeted April commissioning date due to unfinished terminal construction, which will push back necessary clearances before passenger operations can begin.

This marks the second delay for the airport, initially slated for an October 2024 launch. During a review meeting on Wednesday, chaired by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, officials noted that while the first floor of the terminal—meant for domestic passengers—is about 70% complete, the international passenger section above it requires more time.

Due to these delays, international flights may not begin alongside domestic operations. The airport must secure an aerodrome licence from the DGCA, which, based on the current progress, is unlikely before April 30. Additional clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is also required, with approvals based on recommendations from the Airports Authority of India.

Initially, Noida International Airport Ltd (NIAL) planned to launch with 28 routes—25 domestic and three international—on April 17. However, a final decision on its operational timeline will be made in a March 10 meeting chaired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow. NIAL CEO Arun Vir Singh confirmed that the flight schedule, number of flights, and service categories will be determined at this meeting.

The meeting will also include Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, Tata Projects MD and CEO Vinayak Pai, Civil Aviation Secretary V Vualnam, Zurich International Airport MD Daniel Bircher, and Noida International Airport CEO Christoph Schnellmann. Tata Projects holds the airport's engineering contracts, while Zurich International Airport is the concessionaire.

A recent inspection by the chief secretary revealed that construction progress does not align with the April deadline. Meanwhile, the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP), essential for air navigation, is expected to be completed by Thursday, paving the way for ticketing and flight scheduling.

Despite terminal delays, other key infrastructure is ready. The airport’s runway, parallel taxiway, entry-exit taxiways, and nine aprons have been completed, with high-mast light installations set to finish this month. Additionally, discussions have begun on transferring airport security to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), a process that typically takes a month. The formal CISF handover is expected in early April.

ET