Akasa Air, the new low-cost airline backed by billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, has announced its plan to start flights from the upcoming Noida International Airport (NIA), also known as Jewar Airport, in Uttar Pradesh. The airline has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NIA on Friday, becoming the second carrier to partner with the ambitious project after IndiGo.
Why Akasa Air Chose Noida International Airport?
Akasa Air, which is expected to launch its operations in mid-2024, has chosen NIA as one of its base airports to operate domestic and international flights. The airline aims to tap into the growing air travel demand in the National Capital Region (NCR) and western Uttar Pradesh, which are currently served by the congested Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi.
According to Akasa Air CEO Vinay Dube, the airline is excited to collaborate with NIA and support its vision of establishing a comprehensive air network connecting major metros and tier 2 and 3 cities across the country. He said that NIA will offer passengers an unmatched connectivity and an exceptional travel experience.
NIA CEO Christoph Schnellmann welcomed Akasa Air as the airport’s partner and said that the partnership highlights their commitment to strengthen air connectivity in the Delhi-NCR and western Uttar Pradesh. He said that Akasa Air is one of the fastest-growing airlines in the country and they are thrilled to have them join them on their mission.
What is Noida International Airport?
Noida International Airport is an under-construction international airport located near the new planned YEIDA city in Uttar Pradesh. The airport is aimed at servicing the NCR and relieving some of the load from IGIA, which is operating beyond its capacity. Once completed, NIA will be India’s and Asia’s largest international airport with six runways and a capacity of 200 million passengers per year.
The airport is being developed by Zurich Airport International AG under a 40-year concession agreement with the Uttar Pradesh government. The first phase of the airport is expected to be operational by September 2024 with a single runway and a terminal capacity of 12 million passengers per year. The airport will also have a cargo hub, an aviation academy, a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility and an aerospace park.
The airport will be connected by a 31-km greenfield highway from Sector-65, Faridabad on Delhi–Mumbai Expressway. The airport will also have metro rail connectivity with Delhi and Greater Noida. The airport is expected to boost the economic development of the region and create employment opportunities for the local population.