1st flight operates with farmers, others who gave land for airport, Pg3

Key Highlights:

• The first commercial flight from Noida International Airport (Jewar Airport) to Lucknow operated on June 15, 2026.
• The inaugural flight included 170 farmers and other landowners who had contributed their land for the airport project.
• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath acknowledged the successful land acquisition process despite initial challenges.
• The airport, located in Jewar, Gautam Buddha Nagar, is projected to be Asia's largest upon its full development.
• It marks India's first greenfield airport in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Detailed Insights:

• The Noida International Airport was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 28, 2026.
• The airport is being developed in four phases, with the first phase featuring one runway and a terminal designed to handle 12 million passengers annually.
• Upon its complete development by 2050, the airport is planned to have six runways and a capacity for 70 million passengers annually, positioning it as India's largest airport.
• The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) played a crucial role in facilitating land acquisition and promoting industrial growth in the surrounding region.
• The area around the airport is slated for extensive economic development, including an apparel park, medical device park, IT and electronics cities, and a Centre of Excellence for skill development.
• This project is expected to generate significant employment opportunities for local youth and attract substantial investments, transforming the region into a major economic hub.
• The Noida International Airport will serve as the second international airport for the Delhi-NCR region, complementing the existing Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Greenfield Airport: A new airport constructed entirely from scratch on previously undeveloped land, allowing for optimal design and modern infrastructure.
• Land Acquisition: The process by which the government acquires private land for public purposes, governed in India by the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Act, 2013.
• Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA): A government body established under the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Area Development Act, 1976, responsible for the planned industrial and urban development along the Yamuna Expressway.