Noida Airport begins operations with Lucknow flight, Jewar villagers among first passengers

Noida International Airport on Monday received its first passenger flight, marking the beginning of flight operations at the greenfield airport in Jewar.

An IndiGo flight arriving from Lucknow became the first aircraft to land at the airport. Shortly afterwards, the airport witnessed its first passenger departure, with a flight taking off for Lucknow carrying villagers whose land was acquired for the first phase of the airport project.

According to airport officials, IndiGo flight 6E 2278 departed from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow, at 7.12 am and landed at Noida International Airport at 7.58 am.

The arrival marked the start of passenger flight operations at the airport, a project aimed at improving air connectivity between western Uttar Pradesh, the National Capital Region and other parts of the country.

The first departing flight left at around 8.19 am. Among those on board were Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh and officials of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority, including CEO Rakesh Singh, additional CEO Shailendra Bhatia, PCS officer and former Jewar SDM Abhay Singh, along with villagers from the Jewar region.

Many of the passengers were families whose ancestral land was acquired for the development of the airport. Women carrying boarding passes gathered at the terminal before boarding the inaugural flight to Lucknow.

A proud and historic day for Uttar Pradesh as flight operations begin from @NIAirport, Jewar. It is inspiring to see 172 farmers among the first passengers, reflecting how development is reaching every section of society.
What was once a dream is now taking flight. Under the… pic.twitter.com/31MCSZosP5

— Awanish K Awasthi (@AwasthiAwanishK) June 15, 2026

The passengers were scheduled to be received in Lucknow by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

“We are very delighted and obliged to travel on the first flight from Noida International Airport to Lucknow. What we envisioned is becoming a reality before us today,” passenger Abrar Khan said.

Khan said they received an invitation from the chief minister to be part of the first flight and described it as a matter of honour.

Hera Rashid, a young woman from a nearby village, called it a historic moment.

“We will experience the first flight. It is free for us, and we will meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow,” she said.

A farmer, aged around 65, who travelled on the flight said he had given 30 bighas of land for the airport project and was happy to see development.

“We were also promised a job but are yet to get it,” he claimed.

Another woman passenger said being part of the first flight was a matter of pride for the villagers.

Noida International Airport commences operations: IndiGo today commenced the inaugural flight operations from the Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh of India, becoming the first carrier to operate from the National Capital Region’s latest airport.

While… pic.twitter.com/qOJJYnIq83

— FL360aero (@fl360aero) June 15, 2026

Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh said the launch of passenger services reflected the contribution made by farmers towards the airport project.

“The very families who dedicated their ancestral land for the national interest and the state’s bright future are today taking to the skies from that same soil,” he said.

He added that the hands that once tilled the land now held boarding passes.

“When the farmers of Jewar boarded the flight to Lucknow today, it was not merely their journey; it was a historic flight representing India’s development, the dignity of farmers and a transforming Uttar Pradesh,” the lawmaker said.

Officials said the new air connectivity is expected to benefit business travellers, students, professionals and other passengers by providing an additional travel option while supporting regional development.

#WATCH | Jewar, UP | Noida International Airport’s first commercial flight takes off for Lucknow.

The passengers of the flight include farmers who gave their land for the airport. They will meet UP CM Yogi Adityanath at a programme organised in the city.

(Pics and Video: Jewar… pic.twitter.com/jRomgrEC3u

— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2026

They added that the airport has been developed with a focus on creating a multimodal transport hub through connectivity by air, road and other modes of transport.

Noida International Airport is expected to strengthen connectivity and support economic activity in western Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the airport on November 25, 2021. He inaugurated the airport on March 28 this year.

(With inputs from agencies)