NEW DEHI: The airport, which will start functioning by April 2025, is witnessing interests from airlines across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, says CEO Christoph Schnellmann.
The upcoming high stakes Noida International Airport (NIA) at Jewar in Western Uttar Pradesh is expected to take the Indian aviation industry to the skies, at a time when this market is showing tremendous growth, post the Covid-era.
Talking exclusively to The Sunday Guardian, NIA Chief Executive Officer, Christoph Schnellmann said that this mega project will have the blend of Indian warmth and hospitality with Swiss technology and efficiency.
He further said that “we are committed to developing a world-class airport with a strong focus on environmentally conscious development and an ambitious net zero emission philosophy” and that NIA will give a huge push to the Indian aviation sector.
Excerpts:
Q: How many passengers can this airport handle annually? What are your expectations?
A: Noida International Airport (NIA) will be India’s leading greenfield airport in terms of customer service, efficiency, digital services, and logistics ecosystem with a commitment to minimal environmental impact. Combining Indian warmth and hospitality with Swiss technology and efficiency, the airport will provide quick, efficient processes at the best value to passengers and airlines.
The first phase of Noida International Airport, featuring one runway and one terminal, will accommodate 12 million passengers annually. Upon completion of the fourth phase, the airport’s capacity will increase to 70 million passengers per year.
Q: There were talks about sustainability and net zero carbon emissions. Are any environmental clearances still pending?
A: Noida International Airport (NIA) received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change in March 2020. We are committed to developing a world-class airport with a strong focus on environmentally conscious development and an ambitious net zero emission philosophy. Sustainability has been an important consideration for airport design from the outset and some of the key criteria based on which we selected the airport’s planning and design teams, construction partners, and concessionaires.
In the terminal, passive measures such as natural lighting, natural ventilation, and glare protection will help improve the passenger experience and reduce the CO2 footprint and energy costs. There are plans to implement technologies and processes like the use of renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, onsite waste management plant, sewage treatment plant, EV charging infrastructure, and electric ground support equipment among others.
Special precautions have been taken during construction to reduce the impact on the environment. There are over 580 trees that have been transplanted at the construction site with over 133 hectares of green area planned within the airport. Additionally, our EPC contractor has leveraged breakthrough technology from Nanogence Catalyst, which is a patented smart activator that enhances the binding efficiency of cementitious material, providing high material performance while reducing carbon emissions.
Q: What are the biggest achievements and the biggest challenges that you faced or are still facing?
A: Noida International Airport remains on course with its development milestones, with validation flights to test flight procedures as well as filing of its aerodrome licence application expected by December 2024. Commercial operations at the airport are scheduled to begin by the end of April 2025.
We’ve achieved significant milestones in recent months, particularly in curating the passenger experience at the airport. We’ve partnered with Travel Food Services (TFS) to offer diverse multi-cuisine dining options and a world-class lounge featuring both premium and luxury zones. Additionally, HMSHost India will operate a variety of restaurants and cafes within the terminal, ensuring a blend of local and global flavours. Further solidifying our commitment to a superior travel experience, we’ve awarded the retail and duty-free concession to a consortium of Heinemann Asia Pacific and BWC Forwarders, guaranteeing a world-class shopping experience for our passengers.
We have also signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with IndiGo and Akasa Air, with network planning and operational requirements under discussion. Some other key aero concessions including into-plane fuelling services, ground handling, and cargo, have been awarded.
The major challenge that we faced was the delays in the delivery of construction materials and equipment due to Covid-19 restrictions during the early stages of development. We also faced supply chain constraints due to geopolitical conflict. However, NIA has delivered exceptional progress in the two years since the commencement of construction activity.
Q: Which are the areas where work is still pending? When will it operationalise?
A: We have recently signed crucial agreements covering essential services such as airfield lighting, passenger boarding bridges for seamless and comfortable boarding and disembarkation, as well as lifts and escalators to facilitate accessibility and smooth passenger flow throughout the terminal. We will also apply for the aerodrome licence by the end of 2024. Commercial operations at the airport are scheduled to begin in April 2025.
Q: What are the unique features of it, and would there be a unique touch of Swiss essence?
A: Noida International Airport will combine Indian warmth and hospitality with Swiss technology and efficiency to develop a modern, user-friendly design, inspired by India.
At NIA, we are committed to developing a world-class airport, with an ambitious net zero emission philosophy. The airport planning, construction, operation, and further development will be undertaken while minimizing the environmental impact of airport operations. We are implementing technologies and processes like zero-emission fuels and green (renewable) electricity, waste-water management, and environmental management systems to realize this goal.
In terms of design, the airport features an efficient layout, a cohesive design language, and numerous high-quality spaces. These elements are combined with lush greenery, reflecting a balanced approach that prioritizes both energy efficiency and a tangible sense of sustainability.
The design draws inspiration from traditional Indian architecture. For example, the passenger terminal will incorporate intricate ornamental lattice screens. The terminal forecourt will feature flights of steps reminiscent of the famous ghats along the Ganges River in Varanasi and Haridwar. A central courtyard, inspired by the traditional haveli courtyard houses of India, will allow for ample natural light and ventilation within the terminal building. Additionally, the airport’s white, translucent, wavy roof is designed to evoke the flowing waters of the region’s rivers.
Q: What are your expectations for the next decade from NIA?
A: India is one of the fastest-growing civil aviation markets in the world. The Indian aviation industry has huge potential and with the growth in regional as well as international air travel.
Noida International Airport will provide the much-needed aviation infrastructure in the Delhi NCR and Western Uttar Pradesh, acting as a catalyst for infrastructure development, economic growth, and employment opportunities in the region. We are a committed partner for India’s growth, and we see tremendous opportunity to invest and support India’s national agenda through infrastructural development and job creation.
NIA will play an important role in fostering and promoting tourism in the region. With its strategic location, it will add airport capacity to the region and complement the existing aviation infrastructure catering to the people of Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Agra, Faridabad, and neighbouring areas. The airport will provide easy access to pilgrimage and tourist destinations including Agra, the Buddhist circuit, Mathura, and Vrindavan to name a few. This could lead to an increase in revenue for the local tourism industry, as well as create new job opportunities.
Additionally, the cargo and logistics infrastructure at the airport will facilitate efficient connectivity and seamless transportation of goods between industries and global markets, creating a cargo gateway for Northern India.
Q: Can you update us on the maintenance of the aircraft as it is being said that aircraft could now be serviced here which could revolutionise the aviation sector in India?
A: It aligns perfectly with our goals of becoming a world-class aviation hub and we have invited expressions of interest to develop maintenance repair and overhaul unit. We are seeing very strong interest but will be able to share more details at a later stage.
Q: Any specific regions/airlines that are showing an interest in this project?
A: We are seeing strong interest from airlines across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. This highlights the strategic importance of our location and the immense potential of the market we are tapping into. When we start the commercial operations, we will be ready to serve both domestic and international carriers from day one.