Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (March 28, 2026) formally inaugurated the National Capital Region’s second airport, the Noida International Airport.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said the launch signalled the beginning of a transformative phase for both the State and the country. “Today we are starting a new chapter for a developed Uttar Pradesh and a developed India,” he said.

Though flights were earlier slated to begin in October 2025, operations at the airport are yet to be announced. Saturday’s (March 28, 2026) inauguration comes just four years after the foundation stone was laid in November 2021. The concession agreement for the project was signed in 2020 with Swiss firm Zurich Airport International AG.

Designed as the National Capital Region’s second airport, the project involves an investment of ₹11,200 crore. In its first phase, it will handle 12 million passengers annually with a single runway, while the long-term plan envisages a capacity of 70 million passengers per year and up to six runways.

The PM underscored that the project would unlock fresh opportunities for farmers, small and medium enterprises, and the youth in western Uttar Pradesh. “Flights from here will connect directly to the world, and the airport will stand as a symbol of a developed Uttar Pradesh taking flight,” he said, congratulating the people of the State, particularly those in western UP.

He said the airport will serve a vast catchment spanning Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Etawah, Bulandshahr and Faridabad, significantly expanding connectivity across the region.

Mr. Modi said the ongoing global situation remains a cause for concern, pointing to the conflict in West Asia that has persisted for over a month and disrupted supplies of essential commodities such as food, petrol, diesel, gas and fertilisers in several countries.

Noting that India imports a significant share of its crude oil and gas from the region, he said the government is working to cushion the impact on citizens. “Every possible step is being taken to ensure that the burden of this crisis does not fall on ordinary families and farmers,” he said.

He appealed to the people to face this crisis with calm and patience, calling it the greatest strength of Indians.

The PM underlined that the growth in the aviation sector also creates tremendous opportunities for the youth, including pilots, cabin crew, and maintenance professionals. Noting that 85% of Indian aircraft still have to go abroad for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services, he said a foundation for one such facility was also laid at the Noida airport.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the airport would help develop a dedicated multimodal cargo hub, enabling the State to overcome the limitations of being landlocked and connect more easily with global markets.