Only 5% Delhi NCR air travellers willing to give Noida airport a try in 2026; large majority to avoid due to distance and higher fares

May 18, 2026, New Delhi: Noida International Airport (NIA) at Jewar is set to begin commercial operations on June 15, 2026, with IndiGo as the launch carrier and inaugural flights to Lucknow, Bengaluru, Amritsar, Hyderabad and Jammu. The airline plans to connect Noida to over 16 domestic destinations within weeks of launch. Operated by Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of Switzerland’s Flughafen Zurich AG), the airport will start with capacity for 1.2 crore passengers a year and is positioned as the second major airport for Delhi NCR alongside the GMR-run Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).

However, weeks before launch, affordability has emerged as the central concern. In submissions to the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), IndiGo and Air India have flagged that proposed aeronautical charges at Noida are significantly higher than at Delhi. Domestic landing charges per metric tonne are reportedly 119% higher than at IGIA, while the embarking User Development Fee (UDF) is proposed at Rs 653 per domestic passenger – around 406% higher than Delhi. IndiGo estimates this will add roughly Rs 103 crore per annum in airport charges versus Delhi, and has warned that without parity, operations from Noida could become “commercially unattractive”.

The Jewar MLA, in a letter dated May 8, 2026 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has urged a review of the proposed UDF and passenger charges. Citing early IndiGo booking data, the MLA noted that fares from Lucknow to Noida airport were trending around Rs 5,072, while Lucknow to Delhi was available between Rs 3,600 and Rs 4,300 – a gap of roughly 25%. He argued that higher fares, combined with the absence of metro and rapid rail connectivity, risk undermining Noida airport’s positioning as an affordable alternative for western Uttar Pradesh and Delhi NCR.

Against this backdrop, LocalCircles conducted a quick pulse survey of Delhi NCR air travellers to understand their airport preference for 2026, given the indicative 25% fare differential. The survey received over 19,000 responses from air travellers across Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad.

9 in 10 Delhi NCR air travellers surveyed prefer Delhi airport over Noida in 2026; only 5% willing to give Noida a try

The survey asked Delhi NCR air travellers, “The new Noida airport will start June 15, 2026 with opening day fares 25% higher than Delhi airport fares to same destinations. If you had to fly in 2026, what would be your preferred airport to fly from?” The question received 19,620 responses.

In response, 58% of air travellers surveyed said they would prefer Delhi airport because of both lower air fare and proximity, while another 32% said they would prefer Delhi airport because of proximity. An additional 5% said they would prefer Delhi airport because of lower air fare. On an aggregate basis, 95% of Delhi NCR air travellers surveyed indicated they would continue to fly out of Delhi airport in 2026 – driven by a combination of better proximity to their homes/offices and lower fares than Noida. Only 5% of respondents indicated a willingness to fly out of Noida airport in 2026, and that too only out of curiosity “to see the airport once.”

Notably, 0% of respondents picked Noida on the merits of proximity, and 0% selected “Can’t Say” or “Not Applicable.” In its launch year, the new Noida airport is unlikely to draw meaningful traffic away from Delhi airport unless the fare and connectivity gaps are addressed early.

Airfares flying out of Noida are higher by 20% or more as compared to Delhi airport (same destination)

A quick check of indicative airfares on a leading online travel platform on May 11, 2026 for travel on June 20, 2026 – just five days after Noida airport’s commercial launch – confirms a meaningful price gap on the same routes from Noida versus Delhi. For most popular domestic destinations, the cheapest flight from Noida is at least 20% more expensive than the cheapest flight from Delhi on the same date, with the gap widening on routes where Noida has fewer carriers and limited non-stop options.

Example 1: Hyderabad route. On the Noida–Hyderabad sector, the cheapest available flight on June 20, 2026 is an IndiGo non-stop at Rs 6,129. For the same date on the Delhi–Hyderabad sector, the cheapest available non-stop is an Akasa Air flight at Rs 5,000. The Noida fare is approximately 22.6% higher than the Delhi fare for an essentially comparable journey, despite Noida being the newer airport meant to serve as an affordable alternative.

Noida–Hyderabad vs Delhi–Hyderabad fare comparison – Screenshot from a leading OTA, dated May 11, 2026 for travel on June 20, 2026.

Example 2: Kolkata route. The gap is sharper on Noida–Kolkata. On June 20, 2026, the cheapest flight from Noida to Kolkata is an IndiGo 1-stop service at Rs 12,538, with no non-stop option visible on that date. For Delhi–Kolkata on the same date, the cheapest non-stop is Akasa Air at Rs 5,806. The Noida fare is over 115% higher than the Delhi fare for the same destination – driven by the absence of non-stops and limited carrier competition out of Noida in the launch period.

Noida–Kolkata vs Delhi–Kolkata fare comparison – Screenshot from a leading OTA, dated May 11, 2026 for travel on June 20, 2026.

Such fare gaps, observed across multiple domestic destinations, validate the survey finding that 95% of Delhi NCR air travellers would continue to choose Delhi airport in 2026. Until non-stop frequencies build up and airport charges at Noida are aligned closer to Delhi, the launch-period fare differential is likely to remain a key reason consumers stay away from Noida.

Reasons Delhi NCR air travellers have cited for not preferring flights from Noida airport in 2026

Beyond pricing, qualitative inputs received from Delhi NCR air travellers during this survey point to a broader set of concerns that explain the strong preference for Delhi airport. The key reasons cited are:

• ● Longer commute to Noida airport, especially from west, central and south Delhi, Gurugram and Faridabad, often involving 1.5 to 2.5 hours of road travel one way
• ● Higher fares to most destinations versus Delhi airport for the same dates and timings, with gaps frequently in the 20–40% range
• ● Limited flight options in case of cancellations or schedule changes, given the small number of carriers and frequencies in the launch period
• ● Safety concerns listed by individual women and senior citizen travellers, including night-time road travel to/from a relatively isolated location with limited public transport
• ● Lack of international connectivity at launch, making Noida unsuitable for travellers connecting onward to overseas destinations
• ● Limited knowledge about food, retail and lounge options at the new airport, with most travellers unsure of what to expect in terms of in-terminal services

These reasons, taken together with the airfare and aeronautical charge differentials, indicate that even a partial closing of the fare gap may not be enough on its own. Without parallel investments in metro and rapid rail connectivity, robust airline competition, international flight options, and clear communication on terminal amenities, a meaningful share of Delhi NCR travellers is unlikely to consider flying out of Noida airport in its first year.