Noida Airport Renamed as Narendra Modi International Airport After UP Cabinet Approval

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a proposal to rename the Noida International Airport in Jewar as Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar, marking a significant development for one of India's newest aviation hubs. The decision was announced by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath following a meeting of the state cabinet on October 9, 2026.

Speaking to reporters in Lucknow, Yogi Adityanath said the state cabinet had approved the proposal to rename the airport in recognition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's role in the project and broader infrastructure development in the state. He described the airport as a major asset for Uttar Pradesh and said it is expected to become the state's largest airport and an important aviation hub for India.

The facility, previously known as Noida International Airport, is located in Jewar in Gautam Buddh Nagar district and serves the National Capital Region (NCR) alongside Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The airport's first phase was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 28, 2026. Commercial flight operations began in June 2026, with an IndiGo flight from Lucknow among the first services to use the airport.

Developed as a greenfield airport project, the facility was built through a public-private partnership involving Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, and the Uttar Pradesh government through Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL).

According to project details cited by multiple reports, the first phase of the airport was developed at a cost of approximately ₹11,282 crore and includes a 3,900-metre runway capable of handling wide-body aircraft. The initial design capacity is about 12 million passengers annually, with long-term expansion plans targeting up to 70 million passengers per year.

The airport is intended to strengthen air connectivity across western Uttar Pradesh and the wider NCR while reducing pressure on Delhi's main airport. It has also been planned as a multimodal transport hub linked to major road and transit networks.

Is the Name Change Final?

While the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved the renaming proposal, the process for naming or renaming airports in India typically requires consideration and final approval by the Union Cabinet before the new name is formally notified. This procedure has been described previously by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and was recently highlighted in reporting on the renaming decision.

As of October 9, 2026, the state government has announced and approved the proposal, but the formal completion of the renaming process may require subsequent central government action in accordance with established procedures.

The Jewar airport project was conceived as a second major international airport for the NCR to complement Delhi's existing aviation infrastructure. Since its inauguration earlier this year, it has been viewed as a key component of Uttar Pradesh's broader infrastructure and economic development plans.

The renaming decision comes shortly after the airport began commercial operations and as authorities continue to position the facility as a long-term aviation and logistics hub for northern India.