The Noida International Airport (NIA), also known as Jewar Airport, will conduct a trial run for aircraft operations on December 9, 2024, at 11 a.m. The exercise marks a key step in preparing the airport for its planned commercial operations, set to commence on April 17, 2025.
An aircraft from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will perform a landing procedure on the airport’s 3.9 km-long runway, designated 10-28. The trial aims to test approach and departure systems while collecting operational data for submission to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for review.
This trial follows a system calibration conducted in October 2024 using a Beech King Air 360 ER aircraft, which verified the functionality of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI). According to Christoph Schnellmann, Chief Executive Officer of Noida International Airport, a single validation flight is expected to confirm readiness, with no additional validation flights anticipated.
Flight trials without passengers began in November and are expected to continue until December 15. Following these trials, NIAL plans to apply for an aerodrome license from the DGCA.
The airport’s initial operations will include 25 domestic routes, three international services, and two cargo flights connecting 25 Indian cities. IndiGo Airlines and Akasa Air are slated to conduct further tests to verify runway functionality and operational systems before the airport opens for commercial use.
The Uttar Pradesh government has imposed a ₹21 crore fine on NIAL for delays in the project, which was originally scheduled for completion in September 2024.
This project, developed under a public-private partnership model led by Zurich AG subsidiary YIAPL, aims to complement existing aviation infrastructure in the region, including Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
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