Why Noida Airport has increased its passenger traffic forecast to 6.5 million in first year of business

Noida International Airport at Jewar has revised its projected passenger traffic due to the recovery in air travel. Initially anticipating 4.1 million passengers in its first year, the airport now expects 6.5 million visitors, according to an ET report. Owned by Zurich Airport and constructed by Tata Projects, the Noida International Airport is set to become operational by 2024.
Christoph Schnellmann, CEO of Noida Airport, attributed the optimistic outlook to the rapid rebound of Indian air travel and substantial aircraft orders placed by Indian carriers. India’s domestic air travel recovery has been amongst the fastest in the world, with Airbus forecasting 685 million passengers by 2042, compared to 165 million in 2019.
This growth positions India as the third-largest civil aviation market worldwide, following China and the United States. Indian carriers, according to a Barclays report, hold the world’s second-largest order backlog, contributing nearly 7% of the industry’s total, trailing only the U.S.

An investor presentation reviewed by ET forecasts 12 million passengers within the first three years of operation for the Noida airport which will be equipped with a single runway, 28 aircraft stands. It has an initial goal of accommodating 12 million passengers by the end of its first phase. The runway will span 3,900 meters, capable of hosting 28 aircraft, while the passenger terminal will cover 100,000 square meters.
The achievement of 12 million passengers will mark the beginning of the next phase of expansion, with a long-term objective of accommodating 70 million passengers annually. Schnellmann emphasized that the airport intends to establish its own customer base, instead of relying on traffic spilling overflow from Delhi Airport.

The strategic location near tourist destinations such as Agra, Mathura, and Barsana, as well as cities like Ghaziabad, home to electronics giants like Samsung, LG, and Vivo, is expected to bolster the airport’s prospects. Additionally, the airport aims to foster international traffic connections with SAARC and Middle Eastern countries.
Watch Noida airport to open by 2024; know about UP’s new modern airport in Jewar