INDUSTRY NEWS
GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY HELD FOR DELHI-NOIDA
APA Issue 4, 2021
The clock is running down to the opening of Delhi’s new Noida International Airport (NIA) after the foundation stone for the new gateway was put in place in the presence of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. In the picture above, NIA CEO, Christoph Schnellmann, and Daniel Bircher, chairman and managing director of operator, Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd (YIAPL), tell Modi and the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh more about the innovative generation project for the National Capital Region. Schnellmann is confident that India’s next greenfield airport will provide passengers, airlines, and partners with quick, efficient processes and exceptional value. He said: “The strong recovery in the aviation sector along with the government initatives to develop and expand airports will not only help meet the growing demand for travel, but also encourage higher connectivity between tier 2 and 3 cities in the country. “Noida International Airport will connect western Uttar Pradesh to other cities in India and the world. This world class airport will set a benchmark in aviation infrastructure and development and the development of multi-airport systems in India.”
Bircher, who is also managing director of Zurich Airport International which 100% owns YIAPL, noted: “The ground-breaking ceremony is a key milestone, and the airport will act as a growth catalyst for not just the state, but the country. “As the Ministry of Civil Aviation turns its focus towards making India a global aviation maintenance hub, NIA will aid the development of cargo and Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO) in the region, making flying more affordable. “We are a committed partner for India’s growth, and we see tremendous opportunity to invest and support India’s national agenda through infrastructural development and job creation.” Located around 72 kilometres from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and 40km from Noida, the airport is expected to become India’s first net zero emissions airport when it opens in 2024. Delhi Noida is initially expected to handle around 12 million passengers per annum before being expanded to accommodate 30mppa and 70mppa by the end of the concession in 2061.
PAKISTAN’S NEW GWADAR AIRPORT
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New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), a $246 million greenfield gateway being built on a 4,300 acre site in Gwadar, Pakistan, could open in late 2023, if the latest press reports are accurate.
The airport is being developed as a joint venture between Pakistan, China and Oman and will be managed and operated by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority.
A widely reported official source is being quoted as stating that construction work on the terminal building will be completed by June 2023, paving the way for the airport to open to passengers a few months later.
The project is a key part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) development, which is a cornerstone of China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative.
