DGCA gives Noida International Airport its aerodrome licence
On 6 March 2026 the DGCA granted the aerodrome licence to Yamuna International Airport Private Limited for Noida International Airport at Jewar in Gautam Budh Nagar. The airport is licensed for public use in all weather, with a 3,900 m runway and ILS for 24×7 operations. Phase one can handle around 12 million passengers a year.
- Date
- 6 March 2026
- Regulator
- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
- Licensee
- Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd (YIAPL), subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG
- Model
- PPP with the UP Government and the Government of India; 40-year concession from 1 October 2021
- Runway
- 10/28, 3,900 m × 45 m, with ILS and AGL
- Capacity
- around 12 million a year in phase one; up to 70 million at full build
The aerodrome licence for Noida International Airport: what happened?
Delhi’s airport is crowded, and western UP has long wanted its own big airport. Jewar is that answer. An aerodrome licence is the regulator saying the airport is safe to operate. It is the last big step before flights.
- The airport is licensed under the Public Use category for all-weather operations.
- It has parking stands for 24 Code C and 02 Code D/F aircraft.
- ARFF Category 9 facilities let it handle wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777-300ER.
- It is being built in four phases along with a multi-modal cargo hub.
Where does it fit nationally?
- Operational airports rose from 74 in 2014 to 164, and India is the third-largest domestic aviation market.
- The roadmap aims at over 400 airports by 2047.
- The airport will ease congestion at existing airports in the region.
Why does the aerodrome licence for Noida International Airport matter?
- Economy: A major hub for the NCR and western UP.
- Connectivity: Eases pressure on existing NCR airports.
What can Prelims ask on the aerodrome licence for Noida International Airport?
- Noida International Airport: Jewar, Gautam Budh Nagar; developer YIAPL (Zurich Airport International AG).
- PPP; concession from 1 October 2021 for 40 years.
- Phase one: around 12 million passengers a year; full build: up to 70 million.
Read all of March 2026 in the monthly UP current affairs compilation →
How to use this in Mains
- The licence is the last regulatory step before commercial flights.
Quotable data pointDGCA granted the aerodrome licence to Yamuna International Airport Private Limited for Noida International Airport, Jewar [PIB].
PIB: Aerodrome License Granted to Noida International Airport
Exam angle
GS-VI: infrastructure of UP. Use Jewar as an example of a PPP greenfield airport serving western UP.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
Noida International Airport at Jewar is being developed by a subsidiary of
Answer (c) & explanation
PIB (Civil Aviation), 6 March 2026.
Questions students ask about this
Who granted the aerodrome licence to Noida International Airport?
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on 6 March 2026.
Who developed the airport?
Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, under a PPP model.
What will its capacity be?
Around 12 million passengers a year in phase one and up to 70 million at full build.
Keep studying
Official source: PIB: Aerodrome License Granted to Noida International Airport
facts from cited sources only; numbers machine-checked against source text; faculty review pending