New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced on Thursday that the international airport at Jewar, Noida, will be operational by the end of this year. Speaking in Lok Sabha, Scindia highlighted that India is now the fifth-largest aviation market globally, both for domestic and international passengers. He added that by 2030, India is expected to become the third-largest aviation market worldwide.

“Previously, Uttar Pradesh had six airports. Since the Modi government took office, we have constructed four more airports in the state, and soon, five additional airports will be operational. Jewar airport will also join them by the end of this year. So, by the end of this year, UP will have a total of 16 airports,” he stated.

The upcoming Noida airport in the Jewar area of Gautam Buddh Nagar district, adjacent to Delhi, is projected to initially cater to 6.5 million passengers annually, according to estimates. This number is anticipated to rise to 70 million passengers per year by 2042-43.

Scindia highlighted that before 2014, India had only 74 airports, but now the count has increased to 149. Moreover, the number of passengers has seen a significant surge, from one crore before the Covid-19 pandemic to 145 million during the pre-Covid era and 152 million in 2023.

He further stated that the number of domestic passengers in the country is expected to reach 300 million in the coming years.