Noida International Airport: Only daytime domestic flights to begin; international flights in first half of 2026 | Noida News

NEW DELHI: Noida International Airport will begin with a “limited window of daytime operations” in the first few weeks and then gradually ramp up night flights. International flights will begin “in the first half of 2026”, NIA CEO Christoph Schnellmann told TOI Thursday. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will oversee calibration flights at the airport this week, which are key to getting the licence and determining operational readiness before its inauguration. The airport is expected to become operational this Dec.New airports gradually ramp up flights to check systems. Mopa Airport, for instance, started with a handful of domestic flights on Jan 5, 2023, and scheduled international ones started from July 21, 2023. Navi Mumbai is expected to start with 60 daily flights —30 arrivals and as many departures—in the first month and double the number after 30 days to reach the 240-300 mark in six months.“We are planning the ramp up of operations keeping in mind safety of passengers and operations; reliability and flyer experience, with our launch carriers IndiGo, Air India Express & Akasa and the Airports Authority of India (which provides air traffic control) and the DGCA. For several weeks I expect to have daytime operations. The same will be extended as time progresses,” Schnellmann said.The airport, which opens with a 1.2 crore passengers annual capacity terminal, expects to handle 60 lakh flyers in its first year of operations. “We see a robust demand for air travel in India and the region. NIA will provide a platform for aerial connectivity to further increase in the region and expect to hits the 1.2-crore mark in a few years,” he said.About international operations, he said: “We will start with domestic flights with a focus on safety and passenger experience. Once that stabilises, we will extend the operations to a 24-hour window and then have international flights which I expect in the first half of 2026 or early next year.”New airports gradually ramp up operations as the systems are all new and the same have to be tested before being subjected to the full load they they made for to withstand. Operational readiness and airport transfer (ORAT) is undertaken to bridge the gap between construction readiness and operational readiness. “Its purpose is to ensure that facilities, systems, and equipment are fully operational, and that staff are trained and capable of functioning in the new environment. An ORAT team can facilitate a successful opening by managing operational readiness ,” according to International Air Transport Association which is the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing over 80% of global air traffic.