Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu says airlines are finalising schedules as India expands airport infrastructure toward 350 airports by 2047.
New Delhi, NFAPost: Commercial flight operations from Noida International Airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh are expected to begin within the next 45 days, Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
During Question Hour, the minister said the airport recently received its aerodrome licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), clearing a major regulatory hurdle before the start of commercial operations.
Naidu explained that once an aerodrome licence is issued, airlines typically take 45 to 60 days to finalise flight schedules and begin operations.
“Airlines finalise their schedules only after an aerodrome licence is issued. Once the schedules are finalised, ticket bookings begin on those routes,” he told the House.
The ministry is currently coordinating with airlines to operationalise flights from the new airport, which is expected to be inaugurated through a grand opening ceremony once services commence.
Rapid Expansion of Aviation Infrastructure
Highlighting the growth of India’s aviation sector, Naidu said the country had 74 airports in 2014, which has now increased to 166 airports.
The government plans to further expand the aviation network by building 50 new airports over the next five years and 200 additional airports over the next two decades, taking the total number to more than 350 airports by 2047.
According to the minister, strengthening aviation infrastructure is a key pillar of India’s development vision under Narendra Modi.
“Strong aviation infrastructure is essential for a developed India,” Naidu said, noting that both aircraft numbers and passenger traffic have doubled over the past 12 years.
Currently, approximately 500,000 passengers travel daily on domestic flights, while around 200,000 passengers use international routes from Indian airports.
Focus on Seaplanes and Helicopter Connectivity
In addition to expanding airports, the government is also promoting seaplane operations and helicopter connectivity to enhance regional transport.
Naidu said guidelines for seaplane services—aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water surfaces—have been revised to support their deployment across suitable locations in the country.
The upcoming launch of flights from Noida International Airport is expected to further strengthen connectivity in northern India and ease congestion at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.
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