Greater Noida, June 17: Noida International Airport has achieved a significant milestone by officially launching domestic cargo operations. The arrival of the first cargo flight from Chennai marks a new chapter for the economy and logistics sector in Uttar Pradesh. The aircraft was warmly welcomed with a water cannon salute upon landing at Jewar Airport.
The Boeing 737-800F, operated by Afcom Holdings, arrived carrying approximately 20 tons of mixed cargo from Chennai. This shipment included mobile phones, electronics, auto components, food items, and consolidated shipments. With the unloading of cargo, supply and logistics activities have commenced. After unloading, the aircraft will return to Chennai.
Shailendra Bhatia, the nodal officer for NIAL, stated that the state-of-the-art cargo terminal, developed over 87 acres, will be operated by AISATS. He emphasized that Noida Airport will be a game changer not only for western Uttar Pradesh but for all of North India. It will boost the export of pharmaceuticals, electronics, food products, and agricultural goods. Notably, around 55% of mobile phones manufactured in India are produced in Noida, making the cargo hub essential for the electronics industry to access global markets.
Additionally, lychees from Pathankot, along with medical equipment and e-commerce-related mobile products, are being dispatched to Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Noida Airport is the first in the country to integrate inbound and outbound facilities, ensuring seamless connectivity. It is being developed as a multi-modal cargo hub, connected by road, rail, and air. In the future, it will be the only cargo hub in the country directly linked to the railway network.
Officials anticipate that international cargo flights may commence within the next six months. Around the airport, an electronic city, MSME park, handicraft park, toy park, apparel cluster, medical, and semiconductor parks are being developed, all within a 10-minute radius of the airport. The first phase of this project, with an investment of approximately ₹39,000 crore, is currently operating one runway, while a second runway is under construction. Ultimately, five runways will be developed, increasing the airport’s capacity to accommodate up to 225 million passengers annually, with an initial capacity of 70 million.
Experts believe that Noida International Airport will play a crucial role in achieving Uttar Pradesh’s goal of becoming a trillion-dollar economy. Furthermore, products like Khurja pottery, Aligarh locks, and Noida textiles will gain a strong international presence under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme. This will reduce logistics time and costs, providing a new momentum for exports.
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