As 2025 draws to a close, uncertainty looms over whether the Noida International Airport (NIA) will become operational within the current financial year ending March 31, 2026. A final decision on the airport’s readiness is expected around Christmas, following a high-level review by the Centre.
According to official sources, critical infrastructure and security-related shortcomings continue to delay the airport’s launch, despite repeated timelines announced earlier.
Key Infrastructure Still Incomplete
Civil Aviation Secretary Sameer Sinha recently flagged that several essential components of the airport remain unfinished. Among the most serious concerns is the incomplete perimeter wall, a mandatory security requirement for airport operations.
Sources told The Times of India that although watchtowers have been constructed at regular intervals along the boundary, they lack proper lighting, rendering them ineffective for security surveillance.
Additionally, the passenger terminal layout has not been adequately segregated. Officials warned that poor design could lead to mix-ups between arriving and departing passengers, posing risks to security and baggage handling systems.
“These issues must be rectified before the airport can be declared operational,” a source familiar with the review process said.
Security Equipment Awaiting Certification
Another major hurdle is the pending certification of bomb disposal equipment by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Without CISF clearance, commercial flight operations cannot begin.
Senior officials from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), CISF, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and Noida International Airport Ltd are scheduled to meet later this week to assess compliance and resolve pending issues.
Foreign CEO Raises Regulatory Questions
Complicating matters further, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has raised concerns with the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the nationality of NIA’s CEO, Christoph Schnellmann, who is a foreign citizen.
Under existing regulations, greenfield airports headed by foreign nationals require security clearance from the Home Ministry. Sources said the issue is currently under examination.
Schnellmann, however, is not new to India. He was involved in the construction of Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, in 2007–08, and has extensive experience in airport development.
In response to queries, officials pointed out that the CEOs of Air India and IndiGo are also foreign nationals, though their cases fall under different regulatory frameworks.
Timeline Pressure Mounts
Once all issues are resolved, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will be approached to finalise the inauguration date. However, officials caution that January is a critical window if the airport is to begin operations within this financial year and gradually scale up during the peak summer travel season.
Aviation experts note that after formal inauguration, airports typically take at least 45 days to commence full operations, as systems are tested and stabilised.
Lessons from Other Airports
By comparison, the Navi Mumbai International Airport, inaugurated on October 8, 2025, is set to begin flight operations on December 25, after a gap of nearly two and a half months. Similarly, Goa’s Mopa Airport, inaugurated on December 11, 2022, became operational by January 5, 2023.
Phased Operations Planned
Schnellmann has earlier stated that NIA will initially operate within a limited daytime window, gradually expanding to night-time operations. To bridge the gap between construction completion and operational readiness, the airport is undergoing the Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) process—a globally accepted system to ensure smooth transition to live operations.
Until the remaining infrastructure, security certifications, and regulatory clearances are completed, however, the much-anticipated Noida International Airport remains grounded.
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