New Delhi: India’s civil aviation regulator is set to inspect Noida International Airport (NIA) to assess its readiness for an aerodrome license, a key regulatory requirement for commencing commercial flight operations, sources told media.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will review infrastructure readiness, operational procedures, and security protocols before granting approval. NIA is expected to handle 5-6 million passengers in its first year, with operations likely to begin between April and May.
“Generally, the DGCA takes 90 days to process aerodrome license applications, but the final clearance will also depend on approvals from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS),” sources said.
Additionally, the airport must publish the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)—a key document detailing navigation and airspace regulations. Airlines require 70 days after AIP dissemination to schedule flights and open ticket bookings. Security inspections, including anti-hijacking and bomb squad preparedness, will also be conducted by BCAS before final clearance.
The airport, initially set to be operational by end-2024, faced delays due to material sourcing constraints. In its first phase, NIA will feature one runway and a terminal with an annual capacity of 12 million passengers. Upon full expansion, it will handle 70 million passengers per year.
IndiGo is expected to be the first airline to commence operations, having signed an MoU with NIA, while several international carriers have also expressed interest in launching flights once the airport is operational.
