Big news for Delhi-NCR! Commercial flights are set to commence from the Noida International Airport (DXN) in Jewar starting June 15. IndiGo has already opened bookings. The inaugural flight will be bound for Lucknow. This airport is located just 50 minutes away from Greater Noida via the Noida Expressway and the Yamuna Expressway. However, for travelers residing in Ghaziabad and Meerut, Delhi’s IGI Airport remains the more convenient and closer option. The Jewar Airport is expected to provide a significant boost to both tourism and trade.
Major news has emerged for the millions of people living in Delhi-NCR and Western Uttar Pradesh. After a long wait, the official dates and routes for the first commercial flights from the Noida International Airport (DXN)—located in Jewar—have been formally announced. According to media reports, regular flight operations from the airport are scheduled to begin on June 15. Concurrently, IndiGo is set to commence ticket sales starting today. However, the biggest question now remains: which airport will prove to be more advantageous for the residents of Noida, Ghaziabad, and Meerut?
Delhi’s IGI Airport, or Jewar’s Noida International Airport? Should you brave the traffic congestion of Delhi (IGI), or will Jewar’s signal-free expressway make your journey smoother? Before the first flight takes off on June 15, let’s analyze the complete equation regarding distance, travel time, and airfares…
First Commercial Flights Likely to Begin on June 15
The first commercial flight from the Noida International Airport is expected to take off on June 15. According to preliminary information, IndiGo will be the first airline to commence operations from this airport. Sources indicate that, initially, flights may be launched connecting major cities such as Lucknow, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Preparations are underway to operate four special flights on the day of the inauguration. The potential routes for these flights include:
Lucknow to Noida
Noida to Bengaluru
Mumbai Route
Other cities in South India
A flight traveling from Lucknow to Noida is expected to take off at 7:05 AM and land at 8:05 AM. The introductory fare is reported to be around ₹10,000, while the fare for the Bengaluru route is likely to exceed ₹8,000.
For Noida Residents: Jewar or Delhi?
If you reside in Noida, your choice of airport will depend on your specific sector.
Most Parts of Noida: Areas such as Sector 18, Sector 62, Sector 137, and the City Center are still closer to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI). It takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach the Delhi airport from these locations.
Greater Noida and the Expressway Belt: If you live in Noida Sector 150, Greater Noida, or the vicinity of the Yamuna Expressway, the Jewar Airport will be a ‘game changer’ for you. By utilizing the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway and the Yamuna Expressway, you can reach the airport in just 45 to 50 minutes. This entire route is signal-free, thereby eliminating the hassle of traffic congestion. Conversely, if residents from these areas were to travel to Delhi’s IGI Airport, the journey could take anywhere from 1 to 1.5 hours due to the DND flyway, Delhi traffic, and overcrowding.
Which Route is Better for Ghaziabad?
For the residents of Ghaziabad, Delhi’s IGI Airport is currently considered the more convenient option.
Delhi Airport: From areas like Raj Nagar Extension or Indirapuram, the distance to the Delhi airport via the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and the Ring Road is approximately 44 km. If traffic conditions are favorable, you can reach the airport in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Furthermore, reaching the Delhi airport from localities such as Indirapuram, Vaishali, and Raj Nagar Extension is currently easier, as both metro and road connectivity are robust.
Jewar Airport: The distance from Ghaziabad to Jewar is approximately 74 to 80 km. Even when utilizing the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), the journey to reach this airport could take between 1.5 to 1.75 hours. Therefore, for the time being, Delhi Airport remains the more practical option for the residents of Ghaziabad. However, in the future—once the RRTS and expressway networks are fully established—Jewar Airport could also emerge as a superior alternative for the people of Ghaziabad.
The Dilemma for Meerut Residents: Equal Distance to Both Sides
For the people of Meerut, the distance to both airports is roughly equal; however, in terms of connectivity, Delhi Airport currently holds the edge.
The Delhi-Meerut Expressway and the ‘Namo Bharat’ (RRTS) train have made the journey from Meerut to Delhi significantly easier. The approximately 90-kilometer distance can now be covered in just 1.5 to 2 hours. Meanwhile, the distance between Meerut and Jewar is roughly 110 to 120 kilometers. Traveling to Jewar via the expressway is also expected to take around 2 hours. However, as connectivity within Western UP improves in the future, Jewar is poised to emerge as a major alternative hub.
Complete Flight Schedule from Jewar Airport
The first commercial flight from Jewar Airport (Noida International Airport) is scheduled to take off on June 15.
First Flight: According to available information, the inaugural flight will operate between Lucknow and Noida. The starting fare for this flight is expected to be around ₹10,000.
4 Special Flights on June 15: On the day of the inauguration, IndiGo will operate special flights to Lucknow and Bengaluru. The starting fare for the Bengaluru flight is expected to be around ₹8,000.
Connectivity to 16 Cities: In the initial phase, Jewar will offer direct flights to 16 major cities, including Jammu, Srinagar, Dharamshala, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai.
Operations to Ramp Up from July 1: Starting in July, the airport’s operations will undergo a full-scale expansion. At that point, the airport is expected to handle approximately 28 aircraft landings and take-offs daily.
Jewar Airport Could Transform the Landscape of Western UP
Jewar Airport is being developed not merely as a standalone airport, but as one of India’s largest aviation and logistics hubs. Its commencement will directly benefit millions of people across the Delhi-NCR region and Western Uttar Pradesh. Residents will no longer have to rely solely on Delhi’s IGI Airport every time they need to catch a flight. Furthermore, the project is expected to provide a significant boost to trade, investment, real estate, and tourism. Access to popular tourist destinations such as Agra, Mathura, and Vrindavan will also become easier for international tourists.
