Operator Zurich Airport expects ‘slower ramp-up’ at Noida airport amid geopolitical headwinds

Zurich Airport International AG, the parent company of Noida International Airport (NIA), anticipates a slower-than-anticipated ramp-up of operations at the airport due to a challenging geopolitical environment. Despite this, the company remains optimistic about the long-term potential of the new airport, which can handle 12 million passengers annually.

The route network is expected to expand, with international services anticipated to follow. Operations at NIA commenced on June 15, 2024, and currently serve 17 domestic routes with IndiGo and Akasa Air. However, Air India Express withdrew from the airport due to financial headwinds exacerbated by the West Asia conflict. Additionally, the continued closure of Pakistani airspace has impacted Indian airlines' west-bound international operations and expansion plans.

In June and July 2024, NIA saw 204 flights (departures plus arrivals) and 1,044 flights, serving approximately 25,000 and 77,000 passengers, respectively. The airport's operating loss for the first six months of 2026, measured by EBITDA, was 2.4 million Swiss Francs, or about $3 million. According to Zurich Airport, the NIA's operationalisation will weigh on the parent company's expenditure, including operating costs, depreciation and amortisation charges, and finance expenses.

The operationalisation of NIA comes at a time when the aviation sector is facing difficulties due to the West Asia crisis, forcing airlines to adjust schedules and postpone network expansion plans. While the NIA management acknowledges the crisis as a short-term challenge, they remain confident in the long-term growth potential of India's aviation market.