The greenfield airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh will open with a limited daytime schedule for Domestic flights, gradually expanding operations to night services once safety and system checks are complete.

“We are planning the ramp up of operations keeping in mind safety of passengers and operations; reliability and flyer experience, with our launch carriers INDIGO, Air India Express & Akasa and the Airport Authority Of India (which provides air traffic control) and the DGCA. For several weeks I expect to have daytime operations. The same will be extended as time progresses,” Schnellmann told ToI on Thursday.

Final checks before launch

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has begun calibration flights this week to test air navigation aids, runway lighting, and other systems crucial for the airport’s certification.These checks are the last step before NIA receives its operating licence and opens for commercial service later this year.Like other new airports, NIA will adopt a phased launch. Goa’s Mopa airport began domestic flights in January 2023 and added international routes six months later.Navi Mumbai airport, expected to open soon, will follow a similar trajectory, starting with around 60 daily flights before doubling its schedule within months.

Global operations in 2026

Schnellmann said international services will start only after the domestic phase and 24-hour operations have stabilised.

“We will start with domestic flights with a focus on safety and passenger experience. Once that stabilises, we will extend the operations to a 24-hour window and then have international flights which I expect in the first half of 2026 or early next year,” he said.

The transition will take place after a detailed Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) exercise — an internationally recognised process ensuring all systems, equipment, and personnel are fully prepared before full-scale operations.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ORAT aims to ensure that “facilities, systems, and equipment are fully operational, and that staff are trained and capable of functioning in the new environment.”

The airport’s first terminal will have an annual capacity of 1.2 crore passengers and is expected to handle about 60 lakh flyers in its first year. Schnellmann said the airport is designed to scale quickly as demand grows.

“We see a robust demand for air travel in India and the region. NIA will provide a platform for aerial connectivity to further increase in the region and expect to hit the 1.2-crore mark in a few years,” he said.