High fares, poor connectivity may hurt Noida airport launch; 95% NCR flyers still prefer Delhi: Survey

Noida International Airport is set to begin commercial operations on June 15, with IndiGo as the launch carrier operating inaugural flights to Lucknow, Bengaluru, Amritsar, Hyderabad, and Jammu. Within weeks of launch, the airline plans to connect the airport to over 16 domestic destinations. 

Operated by Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Flughafen Zurich AG, the Jewar airport will initially handle 1.2 crore passengers annually and is being positioned as the second major airport for the Delhi-NCR region alongside Indira Gandhi International Airport. 

However, weeks ahead of launch, concerns over affordability and connectivity have emerged as key challenges, according to a survey by LocalCircles. 

In submissions to the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), IndiGo and Air India have objected to the proposed aeronautical charges at Noida airport, arguing that they are substantially higher than those at Delhi airport. 

'Commercially unattractive'

According to the submissions, domestic landing charges per metric tonne at Noida are proposed to be 119% higher than at Delhi airport while the User Development Fee (UDF) for domestic passengers is proposed at ₹653 per passenger — around 406% higher than Delhi. IndiGo has estimated that the higher charges could increase its annual airport-related costs by nearly ₹103 crore compared to operating from Delhi and warned that the airport could become “commercially unattractive” without tariff parity. 

Adding to the concerns, the MLA from Jewar, in a letter dated May 8 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sought a review of the proposed UDF and passenger charges. 

The MLA cited early booking trends showing fares from Lucknow to Noida airport at ₹5,072, compared with ₹3,600–₹4,300 for Lucknow to Delhi flights, a difference of nearly 25%. He argued that higher ticket prices, combined with the lack of metro and rapid rail connectivity, could weaken Noida airport’s positioning as an affordable alternative for travellers in western Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-NCR. 

Against this backdrop, the survey found that a large majority of Delhi-NCR travellers still prefer Delhi airport over Noida. 

The survey, which gathered over 19,000 responses from travellers across Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad, asked respondents which airport they would prefer in 2026 if Noida airport fares remained 25% higher than Delhi for the same destinations. 

Among the 19,620 respondents, 58% said they would choose Delhi airport because of both lower fares and better proximity while 32% cited proximity alone. Another 5% preferred Delhi because of lower fares. 

Overall, 95% of respondents said they would continue flying from Delhi airport in 2026, driven by cheaper fares and easier accessibility. Only 5% said they were willing to try Noida airport, primarily out of curiosity. 

The survey also found that none of the respondents selected Noida airport due to proximity advantages. 

Fare disparities & connectivity gaps

The findings suggest that despite its modern infrastructure, Noida International Airport may struggle to divert significant passenger traffic away from Delhi airport during its initial year unless fare disparities and connectivity gaps are addressed quickly. 

The report highlighted four key concerns for policymakers and airport operators. These include significantly higher airport charges at Noida, the erosion of fuel tax advantages due to elevated passenger fees, the absence of metro and rapid rail connectivity at launch, and limited airline competition in the early months with IndiGo currently the only confirmed launch carrier. 

According to the survey, nearly 8 in 10 Delhi-NCR travellers may consider using Noida airport only if fares become comparable to or lower than Delhi airport and if ground connectivity improves substantially.