The Jewar Airport Project (Noida International Airport), currently nearing its high-profile inauguration in March 2026, represents a massive leap in Asia’s aviation landscape, designed to eventually become the continent’s largest airport with a capacity for 70 million passengers annually. While Jewar serves as a “mega-hub” aimed at de-congesting the Delhi National Capital Region and anchoring India’s logistics corridor, it shares a common strategic feature with the New Al-Jouf International Airport in Saudi Arabia. Both projects exemplify the modern Asian trend of “infrastructure-led economic pivoting,” where airports are no longer just transit points but integrated economic engines.
While Al-Jouf scales up to 1.6 million passengers to unlock regional agri-tourism and northern trade for the Kingdom, Jewar scales to tens of millions to anchor South Asia’s industrial growth; together, they highlight a shift toward ultra-modern, culturally-themed, and technologically-smart gateways that are redefining connectivity across the Middle East and South Asia.
March 29, 2024
The construction progress of Asia’s largest airport, Noida International Airport , also known as Jewar Airport Nears Completion as construction status currently stands at over 75% as it is expected to kick off its operations very soon and is also expected to coincide with with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
As for now a number of significant milestones have been achieved at the Jewar International Airport with both of its runways and the crucial Air Traffic Control (ATC) infrastructure construction works finished, thereby hinting the commencement of the operations at the airport to kick off in the coming two to three months.
Jewar Airport Nears Completion
Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh recently gave insights on the progress of the construction works at the airport and also got to emphasize on the installation of pivotal Air Traffic Control infrastructure at the airport. “By the month of July, the airport is expected to boast a total of two state-of-the-art radars, which will enable a substantial increase in the operational capabilities of the airport. At first, this advancement is set to facilitate up to 50 flights daily,” Singh stated.
According to Noida International Airport Limited, which serves as the overseeing authority of the airport, made an announcement of the implementation of directives for starting of long-distance flights that will commence as of date 25th of April.
In a recent review meeting that was held in Lucknow, which was attended by very key stakeholders that included high-ranking officials and executives overseeing the construction works at the airport, gave reaffirmation that upon completion that Jewar International Airport would be the largest in Asia and the fourth-largest in the world once it is completed.
Construction Cost of Noida International Airport
Singh revealed the financial allocation of the project, by bringing to light that a budget allocation of Rs 10,000 crore was utilized for the first phase of the project, and nearly Rs. 7, 371 crore had already been spent. “The terminal building construction is nearing completion. By the month of July, the installation of radar is set to pave way for the flights that are usually radar-assisted. Therefore, the next construction phase of the airport is definitely imminent,” Singh further elaborated.
The airport is being developed by the Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), which is a full subsidiary of the Zurich Airport International AG, partnering closely with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Government of India. Additionally, the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) works of the project were done by Tata Projects. The project has approximately 7,000 worker who are entirely responsible for the construction works of the project.
The Global airlines body IATA-International Air Transport Association has allotted three-letter code of Noida Airport-DXN. IATA gives codes to all the airports in the world so as to enable easier identification, thereby preventing ambiguity that may arise between the countries and cities. The code issued is usually featured on the travel documents of the passengers and other communications like the schedules of the flight, the ticketing, and baggage handilng works from one airport to another.
Project Team
Key Project Owners & Operators
- Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL): The government body (representing the UP Government and NOIDA/YEIDA) overseeing the project.
- Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL): A 100% subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, which holds the 40-year concession to design, build, and operate the airport.
Main EPC Contractor: Tata Projects Limited (Responsible for terminal, runway, and landside infrastructure)
Project Support: Bechtel Engineering and Construction India (Supporting Tata Projects in delivery)
Master Planning & Design: Consortium of Nordic, Grimshaw, Haptic, and STUP
Detailed Design Consultant: SMEC International (Working with Surbana Jurong & Robert Bird Group)
Technical Master Plan: Meinhardt Singapore
Feasibility Consultant: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Also read: UK-based Mace Wins The Delivery Partner Role on the World’s Largest Airport Project
The Top 10 Largest Airport Projects in Africa
Top 10 busiest airports in the world