India’s newest greenfield airport project, the upcoming Noida International Airport at Jewar, is staring at a fresh challenge even before commercial operations begin.
India’s largest airlines -- IndiGo and Air India -- have raised serious concerns before the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority over the airport’s proposed aeronautical tariffs, calling them excessively high and commercially unsustainable.
The concerns come after the airport operator submitted its tariff proposal to AERA for consultation. Airlines argue that while Uttar Pradesh’s 1% VAT on aviation turbine fuel was initially expected to make operations cheaper at Jewar, the proposed airport charges could completely negate that benefit and even make flying from Jewar significantly more expensive than Delhi.
According to IndiGo, aeronautical charges proposed at Jewar are “considerably higher” compared to Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The airline stated that domestic landing charges at Jewar are 119% higher than Delhi airport, while the proposed domestic User Development Fee (UDF) is more than 400% higher.
IndiGo highlighted that parking charges too remain steep. For instance, parking an Airbus A321 aircraft with a 97 metric tonne maximum take-off weight for six hours would cost approximately ₹8,000 at Jewar, compared to about ₹6,900 at Delhi airport. While this is still cheaper than some international airports like Dubai, the airline argues that the comparison should be with Delhi, which serves the same NCR catchment.
Meanwhile, Air India echoed similar concerns in its own submission to AERA.
The Tata Group-owned airline said the proposed charges at Jewar “remain on the high side” and warned that passengers in NCR would inevitably find the airport more expensive compared to Delhi airport once airfare, tolls, cab fares and longer travel times are factored in.
Air India recommended that the UDF be kept lower and costs be spread over a longer period to avoid burdening passengers in the initial years.
12/05/2026 Madeeha Mujawar/CNBC TV18
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