Noida International Airport takes off, but the journey to Jewar remains a work in progress

About 70 km from central Delhi, the Yamuna Expressway leads to an airport that is pulling an entirely new landscape in its wake. In the last few kilometres before Noida International Airport in Jewar, residential towers, warehouses and commercial projects crowd the roadside, signalling a new ecosystem taking shape around it.

Inside, the contrast is immediate. The terminal is spacious, orderly and almost unhurried. But beyond the glass, unfinished stretches of land and active construction are constant reminders that the airport is still finding its feet. Two-and-a-half months after commercial flights began on June 15, that contrast defines the experience: a smooth airport at the heart of a project that is still catching up.

For residents of Noida and Greater Noida, the airport has considerably reduced travel time. For many in Delhi, however, cab fares and the absence of direct public transport continue to make the journey a trade-off since commercial flights began operating on June 15.

The airport, spread across 1,334 hectares in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddha Nagar district, is currently operating its first phase, connecting around 15 cities with roughly three to 35 flights a day.

Soumit Joshi, a student from Greater Noida travelling to Lucknow, found the airport geographically closer but not necessarily easier to access.

“This is my first time flying from Noida International Airport. Delhi airport is farther for me, but getting there is much easier and cheaper,” he said.

He took an autorickshaw to the airport but was stopped at the main gate because autos are not permitted beyond that point. After waiting for around 10 minutes with his luggage, he had to take a cab for the remaining 1-1.5 km to the terminal, adding around ₹120 to his cost.

Rohan Sharma, a technology professional from Moti Bagh travelling to Navi Mumbai, found the cost to be the bigger deterrent. His cab fare exceeded ₹1,700 despite travelling outside peak hours. For his family, he estimated that the fare would be around ₹3,200.

“The airport experience was very smooth, but without cheaper and reliable public transport from Delhi, I would think twice before using it again,” he said.

Khushi Tewari, a resident of Lajpat Nagar travelling to Jaipur, had a similar experience. A private car aggregator quoted ₹3,000 for a one-way journey to Jewar airport, roughly the price of her flight ticket. When an app-based cab was unavailable on the morning of her flight, her father drove her.

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The journey took about two hours to reach the airport’s vicinity and another 20 minutes to reach the terminal.

“Overall, I think I may have spent more than I would have by simply driving to Jaipur or taking a flight from Delhi airport,” she said.

While public transport options are expanding, the network remains sparse and selective, leaving many passengers dependent on private vehicles and cabs.

Passengers travelling from Delhi largely depend on private vehicles, taxis or app-based cabs. Depending on the point of origin, a cab to Jewar airport can cost roughly ₹1,200 to ₹3,500.

The airport authorities said Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation buses currently connect the airport with Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan, Meerut, Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Farrukhabad, Firozabad, Garhmukteshwar, Hathras, Khurja, Moradabad and Shikohabad.

Haryana Roadways operates services to Faridabad and Palwal, while the Atal Seva AC electric bus links the airport with the UPSRTC Sector 35 (Morna) bus depot and Noida City Centre. Passengers can also book intercity buses through the airport’s partnership with redBus, an airport official said.

“QR codes across the terminal provide passengers with quick access to bus routes and schedules. Discussions are also under way with the Delhi Transport Corporation for direct services from key locations in Delhi, including major railway stations and ISBTs. No timeline has been fixed yet,” the official added.