4 days ago
Noida Airport’s Slow Ramp-Up Tests Zurich’s India Confidence
Noida International Airport is a new airport in India.
It opened on June 15, 2026, after about four years of construction.
At first, fewer passengers used it than the operator expected.
About 25,000 people used the airport in June, and about 77,000 used it in July.
The airport also handled many more flights in July than in June.
Zurich Airport said wars and other difficult world events made the early growth harder.
The airport lost money during its first months because it was just beginning operations.
Experts also say its location far from central Delhi could make travel difficult until better rail links are built.
Zurich Airport still believes India’s aviation market and Noida Airport can grow significantly over time.
Noida International Airport began operations on June 15, 2026, after about four years of construction.
Passenger traffic rose from about 25,000 in June to 77,000 in July, while flight movements increased from 204 to 1,044.
Zurich Airport attributed the slower-than-expected ramp-up to geopolitical challenges and elevated near-term uncertainty.
Noida Airport reported CHF 2.5 million in revenue, CHF 4.9 million in operating expenses, and a CHF 2.4 million EBITDA loss in the first half of 2026.
Zurich Airport remains confident in India’s long-term aviation potential, with international services expected after domestic expansion.
- Who
- Noida International Airport and its operator, Zurich Airport; IndiGo and Akasa Air currently operate flights there.
- What
- The airport has experienced a slower-than-expected initial ramp-up while Zurich Airport maintains a positive long-term outlook.
- Where
- Noida International Airport is located in Jewar, western Uttar Pradesh, and serves the Delhi-National Capital Region.
- When
- Operations began on June 15, 2026; the reported financial figures cover the first half of 2026, and traffic figures cover June and July.
- Why
- Zurich Airport cited a challenging geopolitical environment and elevated near-term uncertainty; analysts also identified limited rapid public transport access as a challenge.
Near-Term Concerns
Long-Term Confidence
Initial passenger demand
Near-Term Concerns
The airport’s ramp-up has been slower than expected, and its near-term performance remains subject to elevated uncertainty.
Long-Term Confidence
Passenger traffic and flight movements increased substantially between June and July, showing early operational growth.
Financial impact
Near-Term Concerns
Noida Airport recorded a CHF 2.4 million EBITDA loss, while its opening is expected to increase Zurich Airport Group’s operating, depreciation, and finance expenses.
Long-Term Confidence
Zurich Airport presents the loss and higher costs as normal consequences of launching a large infrastructure project.
Airport accessibility and competition
Near-Term Concerns
The airport is about 80 kilometers from central Delhi and lacks rapid rail or metro connectivity, while Indira Gandhi International Airport still has capacity-expansion plans.
Long-Term Confidence
The airport can add capacity for the Delhi-NCR region, expand connections to metropolitan and smaller cities, and eventually strengthen the region’s position as an aviation hub.
Key facts
- Opening date
- June 15, 2026
- Current network
- 17 domestic routes operated by IndiGo and Akasa Air
- Passenger traffic
- About 25,000 passengers in June and 77,000 in July
- First-half revenue
- CHF 2.5 million
- First-half operating expenses
- CHF 4.9 million
- First-half EBITDA
- Negative CHF 2.4 million
- Initial capacity
- 12 million passengers annually
- Concession period
- Runs until 2061
Quotes
Zurich Airport Ltd
Parent company of Zurich Airport International AG and the operator group involved in Noida International Airport.
“Slower ramp-up expected due to challenging geopolitical environment, with near-term performance remaining subject to elevated uncertainty. Route network will continue to expand, with international services expected to follow.”
CNBC TV 18
indianexpress.com
“strong confidence in the long-term growth potential and attractive fundamentals of the Indian aviation market.”
CNBC TV 18
Christoph Schnellmann
Vice Chairman of Noida International Airport.
“We won the bid to design and build this airport at the end of 2019. Three months later, the bottom dropped out of the aviation market across the world. No one was flying anymore (due to the Covid pandemic)…We saw traffic in India rebound very quickly, faster than in many parts of the world. That’s the approach we take to the current crisis as well. It’s a challenging time for aviation but if we zoom out and look at where the industry has come from in the past 15-20 years, and what the outlook is”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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