On June 15, at 8:05 am, a short flight on a medium-range aircraft marked a significant milestone for Delhi-NCR. IndiGo's inaugural Lucknow-Noida flight landed at the newly opened Noida International Airport (DXN) to a water cannon salute, introducing the code 'DXN' to India's aviation map as the country's newest international airport and the second for the national capital region.
Exciting Journey for Passengers
For someone who had been pursuing this dream since 2006, the excitement was palpable. Waking up at 3 am in Lucknow to catch the flight, the news of the US-Iran peace deal seemed like a positive omen for the new airport. At Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, 175 other passengers had arrived a day early to be on the inaugural IndiGo-operated 186-seater Airbus A320, named 'VT-IOM' with 'Om' in its name.
Business Executives on Board
Around 80 business executives also boarded the flight, envisioning the transformation of the currently sleepy Agra expressway into a bustling corridor like Dwarka or Gurgaon expressways. Among the passengers was a couple inspired by a Delhi Metro commuter who rode the first service of every new route. Another couple from Mumbai dressed their three-year-old daughter as a pilot, who became the star attraction on board, and planned to fly to Amritsar from NIA.
Flight Details and Transit Experience
IndiGo captains Ranjeev Kapoor and Prateek Tripathi announced that the 450-kilometer journey would take about 45-50 minutes. A co-passenger, Tanisha Srivastava from Lucknow, who is pursuing an undergraduate course in London, had two firsts to her credit: she was booked on this flight as part of a Lucknow-Bengaluru-Kuala Lumpur itinerary, making her one of the first transit passengers from NIA.
Descent and Landing
As the aircraft descended into NIA, the view of green fields replaced the usual dust bowl, thanks to recent rain. Amid applause, the aircraft touched down smoothly, greeted by a water cannon salute from NIA's fire tenders. Excited passengers stood up even while the aircraft was still taxiing, an unusual habit that the airport hopes not to see repeated.
Terminal and Connectivity
The NIA terminal currently has an annual capacity of 1.2 crore passengers, similar to IGIA's Terminal 2. It took a 5-7 minute walk to the baggage carousel area. NIA impresses with efficient, fast passenger movement rather than aesthetics, unlike Bengaluru or Mumbai airports. For a glimpse of the Taj Mahal, one must drive 140 kilometers towards Agra. Parts of the terminal are still under construction, with work in progress at carousels. Without carpets, pushing baggage on wheels is easy. The author exited the airport in under 15 minutes without checked baggage, but the new facility demands time. Currently, only private vehicles, cabs, and buses are available as transport, and their availability was not fully tested on Day 1. Luckily, NIA has mobile network coverage, unlike Navi Mumbai airport.
Travel Time Comparison
The flight from Lucknow to NIA took about 50 minutes, while the drive from the airport to the author's house near AIIMS in Delhi, 78 kilometers away, took about 100 minutes in peak morning traffic. Connectivity will be crucial for the new airport's success, as even most Noida residents find IGIA closer. Otherwise, the journey home will be long, arduous, and expensive.
