Noida International Airport (NIA) will draw its main footfall from a catchment area distinct from Delhi’s IGI, widening access to flights not just for people living in NCR but also western UP, its CEO Christoph Schnellmann says. To be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and start flight operations later this summer, NCR’s second international airport will open an aviation port to Delhi’s fast-growing east. Schnellman, the India specialist at Zurich Airports who played a key role in developing Bengaluru’s airport nearly two decades ago, expects footfall to reach around 60 lakh passengers in the first year, half of the annual capacity NIA is opening with. Developed and operated by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a subsidiary of Zurich AG, NIA is promising fliers a “cultural experience”, one that combines Swiss efficiency with the ethos of Braj Bhoomi., says Schnellmann. Excerpts from an interview.Q. NIA is being inaugurated after several missed deadlines. What caused the delay?We started the project at the end of 2019 and navigated it through the turbulence of Covid times. Tata Projects secured the engineering, procurement and construction contract to build NIA in June 2022. Looking at how much has been delivered in around three and a half years of construction; we can all be very pleased. Phase 1 saw well over 8.5 crore safe man hours without any major injury. That’s very dear to my heart and we are grateful to the support of Tata Projects.Q. Do you see road connectivity being issue in the coming days as cab fares from several places in Delhi are higher for NIA than IGIA?
We have been working to ensure there is convenient, quick and easy connectivity to and from the airport for every budget. The airport is located just a few hundred metres off Yamuna Expressway. This main artery to the hub enables traffic light-free travel to and from the expressway. We have entered into partnerships with various state bus companies and app-based cabs. There will be luxury electric taxis as well.Q. What’s the travel experience that awaits passengers at NIA?We are very excited about the architectural experience and seamless flow design philosophy that draws from the legacy of western UP and Braj Bhoomi — the use of red granite (not sandstone) that will remind people of the many monuments of the region, high ceilings, steps inspired by ghats, and ‘aangan’ (open courtyard) after security check, inspired by the region’s havelis. Ample sunlight will brighten up the terminal. The latest in technology like Digi Yatra and self-bag drop facilities has been fused with the traditional design aspects of the region. The food and beverage offerings in the terminal will include regionally inspired Braj Bhoomi cuisine. The terminal has also been designed to offer clear lines and a clear sense of proportions. Wayfinding will be intuitive and easy. There will be short transfers and arrival distances.Q. How will NIA ramp up its operations?We are planning the ramp up operations keeping in mind safety of passengers and operations, reliability and flyer experience with our launch carriers IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa, Airports Authority of India (which provides air traffic control) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation. We will start with domestic flights in a limited window of daytime operations for the first few weeks with a focus on safety and passenger experience. Once that stabilises, we will extend operations to a 24-hour window and then have international flights later in the year. The airport is expected to see 60 lakh flyers in its first year and we will reach the 1.2 crore mark (phase 1 capacity) in a few years. According to the (concessionaire) agreement, work on Phase 2 (that will add 1.8 crore passengers annually to Terminal 1) has to start when we reach 80% of the 1.2 crore mark (meaning when it hits 96-lakh traffic mark). I expect the expansion work for Phase 2 to be on in full swing by the end of this decade. Work on phase 2 has, in fact, already started as we are building nine additional aircraft parking stands than the originally planned number for Phase 1 due to demand from airlines to park planes here. That project is nearing completion.Q. NIA is supposed to have a VIP terminal. What is its status?The VIP terminal is under construction and will be ready in 2026. It will not be far from the main passenger terminal. TajSATS flight kitchen will be ready from the day our operations start. AISATS has built a big cargo facility in a 22,000 square metre area. NIA will support the electronics manufacturing hub in Noida and agricultural heartland of UP. We are very excited for the cargo potential. At present, we do not have a general aviation terminal and that is something we continue to explore.Q. Navi Mumbai Airport opened when Mumbai CSMIA was running at full capacity. IGI airport has spare capacity and is yet to reach its peak. Will you have to compete for traffic with IGIA?NIA will complement NCR’s airport infrastructure. We have seen an incredibly strong growth in air travel over the years, especially in Delhi-NCR, and anticipate increased demand in times to come. NIA will become a platform for further growth in north India. There is a very strong catchment area unique to Noida airport — eastern NCR, western UP, and further south, Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. We are very confident about the potential of this area.Q. What kind of air traffic control coordination will be required with both IGI and Hindon nearby?That coordination by Airports Authority of India (which provides ATC services) is absolutely fundamental and we have been working very closely with them over the years to ensure safe and efficient air traffic services are available to support growth in coming years. There is a detailed airspace management plan to ensure all airports in the region are operated with absolute safety.
